Combination of best promoter and catalyst for hypervalent chromium oxidation of l-sorbose to lactone of C5 aldonic acid in aqueous media at room temperature

► The effect of promoter, micellar catalyst and their combination is studied. ► All the reactions were performed under the condition [l-sorbose]T ≫ [Cr(VI)]T. ► The rate is highest in the presence of phen. ► Anionic surfactant SDS increases the rate followed by TX-100. ► Combination of bpy and SDS produces maximum rate enhancement.