Question

When a dihydroxy acetone reacts with $HI{O}_4$, the product is/are:

• A. $HCHO$
• B. $HCOOH$
• C. $HCHO$ and $HCOOH$
• D. $HCHO$ and $C{O}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $HCHO$ and $C{O}_2$

$HI{O}_4$ cleaves the glycol bond and the diols get oxidised to their corresponding carbonyl functional groups. For $\alpha -$hydroxy ketones, the alcohol part gets oxidised to aldehyde and the ketonic part gets oxidised to their corresponding acid.