Oxidation
Propan-2-ol is oxidised to propanone.
- Reagents
- K2Cr2O7 / dilute H2SO4
- Conditions
- Warm in acidic solution
- Reaction class
- Oxidation
- Equation
- CH3CH(OH)CH3 + [O] -> CH3COCH3 + H2O
Overview
Propan-2-ol is oxidised to propanone.
Transformation
- Equation
- CH3CH(OH)CH3 + [O] -> CH3COCH3 + H2O
- Reagents
- K2Cr2O7 / dilute H2SO4
- Environment
- Warm in acidic solution
- Reaction class
- Oxidation
- Mechanism
- alcohol oxidation
- Evidence level
- source-backed molecular example
Scope and limitations
- Scope
- Propan-2-ol; secondary alcohol.
- Limitations
- Cr(VI) oxidising reagent.
Related reactions
- Reduction: Propanone → Propan-2-ol
Propanone is reduced to propan-2-ol.
- Hydration: Propene → Propan-2-ol
Propene gives propan-2-ol through hydration.
- Hydrolysis: 2-Bromopropane → Propan-2-ol
Replacing the carbon-bromine bond with carbon-oxygen bonding produces propan-2-ol. Its central carbon remains secondary, explaining its subsequent oxidation to propanone.
References
- Oxidation of alcoholsJim Clark · Chemguide · 2015
Named molecular examples and reaction scope, checked 2026-09-08.