Corey-Kim Oxidation Tutorial
The Corey-Kim Oxidation, a reaction related to the Swern Oxidation, is a mild oxidation method used to oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones.1
Summary
The reaction entry summary. Find the general scheme and full summarized mechanisms here.
General Scheme
This section briefly summarizes what can and cannot undergo reactions.
- 1° Alcohols (Primary) get oxidized to Aldehydes.
- 2° Alcohols (Secondary) get oxidized to Ketones.
- 3° Alcohols (Tertiary) do not get oxidized at all.
General Mechanism
This section briefly summarizes steps to find the product and perform the mechanisms.
Quick steps to finding the product for any alcohol
- Identify the reagents.
- Assign side chains (non alcohol part).
- Selectively convert Alcohol to correct product based on alcohol type. Nothing else.
- Keep the side chains (non alcohol part) the same and piece together the full molecule together again.
Full Primary Alcohol to Aldehyde Mechanism
Full Secondary Alcohol to Ketone Mechanism
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Always remember to repeatedly practice your mechanisms and getting your reagents correct. Take advantage of our materials and/or keep practicing on a whiteboard or paper until you get it right every single time.
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