Oxidation

Oxidation

All alkanes readily burn in excess of air or oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Controlled oxidation, on the other hand, under various conditions, leads to different products. Intensive oxidation gives a mixture of acids consisting of the complete range of C₁ to C_n carbon atoms. Less extensive oxidation gives a mixture of products in which no chain fission has occurred. Under moderate conditions, mixture ketones are the major products, and oxidation in the presence of boric acid produces a mixture of secondary alcohols. The oxidation of alkanes in the vapour state occurs via free radicals, e.g., alkyl (R), alkylperoxy (ROO^.) and alkoxy (RO^.).

Oxidising reagents such as potassium permanganate readily oxidize a tertiary hydrogen atoms to a hydroxyl group, e.g., isobutene is oxidized to t-butanol :

(CH₃)₃CH  +  [O]  ^KMnO4 (CH₃)₃COH