Lesson eLearning

When 1‑phenylethanol is oxidised with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC), what is the major product? Provide its common name and IUPAC name.

medium 2 marks Class 12 · Chemistry · Alcohols Phenols and Ethers
Answer
acetophenone (1‑phenylethanone)

The correct answer is acetophenone (1‑phenylethanone) — The IUPAC name is 1‑phenylethanone, and the common name is acetophenone.

Step-by-step solution

  1. PCC is a mild oxidising agent suitable for oxidising secondary alcohols to ketones without over‑oxidation.
  2. 1‑Phenylethanol has a secondary alcohol group, so PCC will remove two hydrogens from the carbon bearing the OH to give a carbonyl.
  3. The resulting compound is a ketone with a phenyl group attached to a methyl group: acetophenone.
  4. The IUPAC name is 1‑phenylethanone, and the common name is acetophenone.
Common mistake: Assuming the ketone will be further oxidised to a carboxylic acid or that PCC is a strong oxidiser like KMnO.

Concept tested: Oxidation of secondary alcohols

Published · How this solution was prepared and checked

← All Alcohols Phenols and Ethers questions