Jones Reagent Density

Jones Reagent is a mixture of chromium trioxide in dilute sulfuric acid for organic redox reactions consisting of oxidizing primary and secondary alcohols to carboxylic acids and ketones, respectively. It can also be used to convert allylic alcohols into aldehydes by oxidatively splitting the carbon-carbon double bond. The reagent is typically added to the alcohol in acetone or another non-polar solvent. The oxidation reaction is highly selective, and the reagent does not attack acid-sensitive groups such as ester, carboxylic acids, or carbonyl compounds.

Chromic acid, H2CrO4, acts as a strong oxidising agent that is capable of converting most alcohols to ketones and carboxylic acids. It does not oxidise or rearrange double or triple bonds in the molecules of the alcohols, and therefore the resulting oxidised products have low boiling, melting and boiling points and are relatively stable.

Compared to other commonly used oxidising agents such as MnO2 or NaOH, jones reagent density has a lower density and is more soluble in acetone. This makes it easier to use, particularly in anhydrous conditions, when oxidizing alcohols.

The jones reagent is most often used in the oxidation of secondary alcohols to their corresponding ketones, and it can also be used to oxidize some primary allylic alcohols into aldehydes (Jones reaction). In general, the jones reagent reacts faster than most other oxidising agents, especially when it is added to an acidic solution, which allows it to reach equilibrium more rapidly. It can also be used to oxidize some allylic alcohols with less effect on the structure of the molecule than some other oxidising agents, such as MnO2.