Carboxylic acid

“Carboxylic acids are useful reagents and synthetic precursors. The two simplest ones are manufactured on a large scale industrially. Formic acid is employed in the tanning process in the manufacture of leather and in the preparation of latex rubber. It is synthesized effi ciently by the reaction of powdered sodium hydroxide with carbon monoxide under pres sure. This transformation proceeds by nucleophilic addition followed by protonation.”

“Many of the oxidants employed to prepare aldehydes from primary alcohols may be used to further oxidize the aldehyde initially formed to the corresponding carboxylic acid. The most common oxidants for this purpose include KMnO, chromic acid, sodium chlorite, silver oxide, and PDC in DMF.”