Chromic acid

[motivated dent]

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can anyone tell me if/why this acid can oxidize hydrocarbons like methane or an ethyl group? does it matter if it's apart of an aromatic compound or in a normal compound?

 

[yankees27th]

When you have a hydrocarbon chain coming off a benzene ring, as long as that first carbon off of the benzene ring has one hydrogen, the entire chain will be oxidized to a -COOH group.

 

[motivated dent]

got it. so what if CH2 is attached to a halogen on the benzene ring?

 

[yankees27th]

I'm pretty sure it's only a hydrocarbon chain. Branched chains are ok, but things like halogens and other functional groups won't allow the reaction to happen.

 

[klutzy1987]

as long as there is a Hydrogen is the Benzyllic position the chain will oxidize to form a carboxy acid. Even if there is a halogen present.