Selective monooxidation of symmetric dialdehydes in aqueous media

Selective monooxidation of symmetric dialdehydes in aqueous media have been investigated for several symmetric dialdehydes. The best conditions apply 1.1 equivalents of H5IO6 with 0.02 equivalents of a co-oxidant PCC in H2O containing CH3CN as a co-solvent (H2O/CH3CN = 10/1). The reaction conditions are simple, mild, and practical, yielding the corresponding formyl carboxylic acids in modest to high yields.