Mild oxidation method used to oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones.
The Corey-Kim Oxidation, a reaction related to the Swern Oxidation, is a mild oxidation method used to oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones.1 2
This section briefly summarizes steps to find the product and perform the mechanisms.Quick steps to finding the product for any alcohol
Identify the reagents.
Assign side chains (non alcohol part).
Selectively convert Alcohol to correct product based on alcohol type. Nothing else.
Keep the side chains (non alcohol part) the same and piece together the full molecule together again.
Full Primary Alcohol to Aldehyde Mechanism
Full Secondary Alchol to Ketone Mechanism
Always remember to repeatedly practice your mechanisms and getting your reagents correct. Take advantage of our materials and/or keep practicing on a whiteboard or paper until you get it right every single time.
Corey, E. J.; Kim, C. U. New and highly effective method for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to carbonyl compounds.
J. Am. Chem. Soc.1972, 94 (21), 7586–7587.
DOI: 10.1021/ja00776a056
Corey, E. J.; Kim, C. U. A method for the oxidation of sec,tert-1,2-diols to α-hydroxy ketones without carbon-carbon cleavage.
Tetrahedron Lett.1974, 15 (3), 287–290.
DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)82195-X