Question

What is the product of the following reaction?

• A. Cyclopentanone
• B. Cyclopentene
• C. 2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid
• D. Cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

c

Answer 2

The reactant is 2-hydroxycyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid, containing a secondary alcohol and a carboxylic acid group. $\text{K}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7$ is a strong oxidizing agent that oxidizes secondary alcohols to ketones. The carboxylic acid group is not oxidized under these conditions. Therefore, the secondary alcohol group in the reactant is oxidized to a ketone, resulting in the formation of 2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid.