Reaction Summary
Reagents
- Acidified
(enough to oxidise both OH groups)
Conditions
- Heat and distil immediately
Catalyst
- None
Chemical Equation
Equation
By-Products
Observations
Observations
- Orange solution turns green (
➔ )
⚠️ 9701 Exam Notes / Pitfalls
Warning
- A diol with two primary OH groups gives a dialdehyde (ethane-1,2-diol ➔ ethanedial).
- Must distil off the product as it forms, otherwise it oxidises further to a (di)carboxylic acid.
- With limited oxidant only one OH reacts ➔ hydroxyaldehyde (see diol_to_hydroxyaldehyde).