Steric Effects on Reaction Rates - III. Application of Force-Field Calculations to Chromic Acid Oxidation of Alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/hlca.19820650410

The rates of oxidation with chromic acid of 15 bi- and polycyclic secondary alcohols have been measured and correlated with strain changes calculated by the MM1-program between the alcohols and the corresponding ketones.A correlation of the same quality is obtained upon representation of OH-strain by CH3-strain.The significance of the correlations with respect to the oxidation mechanism as well as the limitations of the applicability of force-field calculations to reactivity problems are discussed.