Tertiary alcohols are generally resistant to oxidation by mild agents. However, under drastic conditions using strong oxidizing agents at elevated temperatures, they undergo oxidation. What is the cha

Question

Tertiary alcohols are generally resistant to oxidation by mild agents. However, under drastic conditions using strong oxidizing agents at elevated temperatures, they undergo oxidation. What is the characteristic feature of the resulting product mixture?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: C. Tertiary alcohols resist normal oxidation because they lack an alpha-hydrogen. Under drastic conditions with strong oxidants, severe carbon-carbon bond cleavage occurs, resulting in a mixture of carboxylic acids that contain fewer carbon atoms than the original tertiary alcohol.

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