Conversion of Propanal to 2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid
Oxidation of Propanal to Propanoic acid
To convert Propanal to 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid, we need to first oxidize Propanal to Propanoic acid. This can be done by using a strong oxidizing agent such as potassium permanganate or chromium trioxide in the presence of acidic or basic conditions. The reaction can be represented as follows:
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Conversion of Propanoic acid to Lactone
Once we have Propanoic acid, we need to convert it to Lactone. This can be done by using a dehydrating agent such as thionyl chloride or phosphorus pentoxide. The reaction can be represented as follows:
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Hydrolysis of Lactone to 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
Finally, we need to hydrolyze the Lactone to obtain 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid. This can be done by using a strong base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The reaction can be represented as follows:
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Overall Reaction
The overall reaction can be represented as follows:
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Therefore, by following these steps, we can convert Propanal to 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid.