Combination of best promoter and micellar catalyst for chromic acid oxidation of 1-butanol to 1-butanal in aqueous media at room temperature

• The importance of this study is that the oxidation has been carried out in aqueous micellar media.
• Chemist’s increasing interest to carry out the organic transformation preferably in aqueous media.
• Oxidation of 1-butanol totally converts the toxic hexavalent chromium into the non-toxic trivalent chromium.
• PA, bipy and phen used as promoters to accelerate the reaction rate in presence and absence of SDS, CPC and TX-100.
• Combination of SDS and bipy is the most efficient one for the oxidation of 1-butanol to 1-butanal.

In aqueous acidic media, picolinic acid, 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline promoted Cr(VI) oxidation of 1-butanol produces 1-butanal. 1-butanal is separated from mixture by fractional distillation. The anionic surfactant (SDS) and neutral surfactant (TX-100) accelerate the process while the cationic surfactant (CPC) retards the reaction. Combination of bipy and SDS is the best choice for chromic acid oxidation of 1-butanol to 1-butanal in aqueous media.

Schematic representation of partitioning of substrate and active oxidant [AO+ = Cr(VI)-bipy complex] in (a) cationic surfactant and (b) anionic surfactant.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide