While this process is very slow, it allows for alcohols to be oxidized to aldehydes or ketones without alkene interference. One of the main uses of the Collins oxidation is the transformation of alkenes to enones by adding carbonyl groups to allylic positions. However, as the complexity of the substrates increases, the usefulness of the Collins oxidation decreases because it lacks the selectivity that other reagents have. The Collins oxidation is a good option when using uncomplicated substrates because it produces good yields of aldehyde and ketone products. However, it is more difficult experimentally because of its required anhydrous conditions. The Collins oxidation is also very useful because it is cheap in comparison to its oxidizing counterparts, PCC and PDC. The variant featured an in situ preparation of the Collins reagent by adding one equivalent of CrO 3 over two equivalents of pyridine in dichloromethane. Ī safer variant of the Collins oxidation was discovered in 1970 by Ratcliffe and Rodehorst. The Collins oxidation allowed for a less basic reagent, which in turn provided a useful option for oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes. Although difficult, it was beneficial at the time because it provided an alternative to the Sarett oxidation, that used pyridine as a solvent. 2Pyr dissolved in dichloromethane to oxidize alcohols.The collins oxidation first came about in 1968 when J.C. Proposed mechanism of Collins oxidation History The mechanism of the Collins oxidation is a relatively simple oxidation process. Mechanism of the Collins oxidation Mechanism It is distinguished from other chromium oxide-based oxidations by the use of Collins reagent, a complex of chromium(VI) oxide with pyridine in dichloromethane. The Collins oxidation is an organic reaction for the oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes.

For the oxidizing reagent, see Collins reagent. This article is about the oxidation reaction.

Reacted chromium benefits