Question

Give the product of oxidation with $Mn{O}_2$of $C_6{H}_{5}CH(OH)C{H}_{2}C{H}_{2}OH$.

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that allylic and benzylic alcohol can be readily oxidized under mild conditions. Also manganese (IV) dioxide is a mild oxidizing agent which selectively oxidizes primary or secondary allylic alcohols. We will use this information of reagent in the given question.

Complete answer:
Let us first understand the oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohol with the help of manganese (IV) dioxide:-
-The allylic and benzylic alcohols are oxidized specifically and selectively by a suspension of activated manganese (IV) dioxide ($Mn{O}_2$). Aldehydes are formed by the oxidation of primary allylic alcohols and ketones are formed by the oxidation of secondary allylic alcohols.
-For this reaction, we require an “activated$Mn{O}_2$” which is obtained by the oxidation – reduction reaction of potassium permanganate and it is also a mild oxidizing agent. The oxidation of alcohols takes place on the surface of manganese (IV) dioxide ($Mn{O}_2$) which is insoluble in the solvents used for this reaction.
-The reaction is highly chemoselective because allylic and benzylic alcohols react more rapidly than the ordinary alcohols.
The oxidation reaction of $C_6{H}_{5}CH(OH)C{H}_{2}C{H}_{2}OH$with the help of $Mn{O}_2$ is shown below:-

We can see that there are two alcohols in the reactant among which $Mn{O}_2$have selective nature towards benzylic alcohol and hence it will get oxidized to become a carbonyl compound. Since it is a secondary benzylic alcohol, we obtain ketone as a product.

Note:
The other reagents that can be specially used to oxidize allylic and benzylic alcohol are $Mn{(OAc)}_2$and $Mn{(OAc)}_3$.
-Remember that water competes with the alcohol for the sites on the $Mn{O}_2$surface and therefore it must be removed by drying to produce an active oxidant.