Some oxidation reactions of branched-chain carboxylic acids

Abstract

Various branched-chain carboxylic acids have been oxidized with the following reagents: (A) potassium manganate in dilute alkali; (B) potassium permanganate in concentrated alkali; (C) potassium peroxydisulphate in dilute alkali; (D) potassium peroxydisulphate in dilute acid. In most cases hydroxy-acids were formed by oxidation at the tertiary position but the yields were poor. None of these reagents appears to provide a general method for the preparation of lactones from branched-chain saturated carboxylic acids.