Question

Reagent used to convert decanol to decanoic acid

• A. Tollen's reagent
• B. Jones reagent
• C. Grignard reagent
• D. Fehling's reagent
• E. DIBAC$-$H

Hint:

Remember that weak oxidizing agents like PCC or PDC will stop the oxidation of a primary alcohol at the aldehyde stage.
Only strong oxidizing agents like Jones reagent or acidified \( \text{KMnO}_4 \) will take it all the way to a carboxylic acid.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The oxidation of a primary alcohol to a carboxylic acid requires the use of a strong oxidizing agent. Mild oxidizing agents will stop at the aldehyde stage.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The approach is to identify the functional group transformation (primary alcohol to carboxylic acid) and select the corresponding strong oxidizing agent from the given options.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Decanol is a primary alcohol with a 10-carbon chain.
To convert it into decanoic acid, complete oxidation must occur.
Jones reagent, which is a mixture of chromium trioxide (\( \text{CrO}_3 \)) in aqueous sulfuric acid and acetone, is a strong oxidizing agent.
It oxidizes primary alcohols first to aldehydes, and then rapidly further to carboxylic acids.
Tollen's reagent and Fehling's reagent are mild oxidizing agents that only oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids, but do not oxidize alcohols.
Grignard reagents are used for nucleophilic addition to carbonyls, not for oxidation.
DIBAC$-$H is a reducing agent, typically used to reduce esters or nitriles to aldehydes.
Therefore, Jones reagent is the correct choice.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct reagent is Jones reagent.