Question

How can aldehydes and ketones be produced from alcohols?

Answer 1

By oxidation of the alcohol; usually you don't have to try too hard.

Explanation:

Primary alcohols, `1^@` alcohols, `R_1CH_2OH` oxidize to (i) the aldehyde, `R_1C(=O)H`, and then to the carboxylic acid, `R_1CO_2H`. Normally, it is hard to stop oxidation at the aldehyde.

Secondary alcohols, `2^@` alcohols, `R_1CH(OH)R_2`, oxidize to give the ketone `R_1C(=O)R_2`, and normally stop at this stage. Ketones tend to be a lot more robust under oxidative conditions.

Why should we want to make aldehydes and ketones? Well, they open the possibility of `C-C` bond formation with anionic carbon residues.

Tertiary alcohols, , `3^@` alcohols, `R_1C(OH)R_2R_3`, are inert to oxidation.