During the Oppenauer oxidation of a secondary alcohol to a ketone, which chemical species serves as — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In Oppenauer oxidation, the secondary alcohol is refluxed with aluminium tert-butoxide ($[(CH_3)_3CO]_3Al$) in the presence of excess acetone. Acetone acts as the hydrogen acceptor and is reduced to isopropyl alcohol, thereby driving the oxidation of the secondary alcohol to a ketone.