KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE OXIDATION OF PRIMARY ALIPHATIC-ALCOHOLSBY 2,2'-BIPYRIDINIMN CHLOROCHROMATE

Oxidation of nine primary aliphatic alcohols by 2,2'-bipyridinium chlo rochromate (BPCC) leads to the formation of the corresponding aldehyde s. The reaction is of second order, first with respect to each reactan t. The reaction is catalysed by hydrogen ions; the hydrogen-ion depend ence is expressed by k(obs) = a + b[H+]. The oxidation of[1,1-H-2(2)]e thanol ((MeCD(2)OH) exhibits a substantial primary kinetic isotope eff ect. The reaction has been studied in nineteen organic solvents and th e effect of solvent analysed using Taft's and Swain's multiparametric equations. The oxidation is susceptible to both the polar and steric e ffects of the substituents. Suitable mechanism has been proposed.