Synthesis

• Oxidation
  • Oxidation of many organic molecules can be used in the synthesis of carboxylic acids, including alkenes, aldehydes, 1$^{o}$ alcohols, alkylbenzenes and methyl ketones. Again, a strong oxidant is used to complete this reaction, e.g. KMnO$_{4}$:
    

    Figure 50.6: Oxidation to synthesize carboxylic acids.

    

• Hydrolysis of nitriles
  • Hydrolysis of the $-CN$ group to a $-COOH$ group:

    Figure 50.7: Hyrdolysis of nitriles to synthesize carboxylic acids.

    

• Carbonation of Grignard reagents
  • This reaction takes tertiary alkyl halides and turns them into carboxylic acids:
    

    Figure 50.8: Carbonation of Grignard reagents to synthesize carboxylic acids.