Key Applications:
- Alcohol Oxidation:Converts primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones, often with better selectivity than other chromium reagents.
- Selective Oxidation:Oxidizes allylic alcohols in the presence of other alcohol groups, notes Adi Chemistry.
- Synthesis of Esters & Enones:Oxidizes acetals to esters and didehydroketones to enones with co-oxidants like tert-butyl hydroperoxide, says Sigma-Aldrich.
- Organic Synthesis:Used in developing new drugs (pharmaceuticals), creating dyes, and synthesizing complex organic structures.
- Material Science:Contributes to the creation of advanced coatings and polymers,
- Analytical Chemistry:Helps in detecting and quantifying specific compounds, according to
In essence, PDC (20039-37-6) is a versatile reagent for fine-tuning chemical structures in advanced chemical research and manufacturing.
Primary Chemical Applications
The most common use of PDC is the selective oxidation of alcohols into carbonyl compounds. Its reactivity often depends on the solvent used:
- Alcohol Oxidation: It converts primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones.
- Selective Solvent Effects: In dichloromethane (𝐶𝐻2𝐶𝑙2), it stops at the aldehyde stage for primary alcohols; however, in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), it can further oxidize primary alcohols to carboxylic acids.
- Acetal Conversion: It is used to convert acetals into esters.
- Enone Synthesis: In the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide, it can convert didehydroketones to enones.
- Other Oxidations: It plays a role in oxidizing unsaturated tertiary alcohols, silyl ethers, oximes, and the carbon-boron bond.
Research and Industrial Applications
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis: PDC is a key reagent in the synthesis of complex molecules for drug discovery and development.
- Specialized Molecule Protection: It is often preferred over similar reagents like PCC (Pyridinium chlorochromate) for oxidizing “fragile” molecules, such as nucleosides and carbohydrates, because it is less acidic.
- Material Science: Used in developing advanced materials, including specialized coatings and polymers.
- Environmental & Analytical Chemistry: Employed in studies regarding chromium’s environmental impact and as a reagent for the detection and quantification of specific organic compounds.
Potential Future Applications
Recent research suggests potential pharmacological roles for PDC derivatives, including:
- Enzyme Inhibition: Investigated for inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme by binding to its active site.
- Therapeutic Potential: Studied for possible applications in treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and chronic bronchitis, though these are not standard clinical uses.
FAQs The CAS number of Pyridinium Dichromate (PDC) is 20039-37-6. Pyridinium Dichromate (PDC) (20039-37-6) is mainly used to oxidize primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones in organic synthesis. The molecular formula of Pyridinium Dichromate (PDC) (20039-37-6) is C₁₀H₁₀Cr₂N₂O₇. Pyridinium Dichromate (PDC) (20039-37-6) appears as an orange to reddish crystalline solid.





