Periodic acid

Periodic acid, an oxoacid of iodine, is commonly used as a strong oxidizing agent. This inorganic acid is soluble in most solvents including water and ether.

Periodic acid can be used in the following reactions:

• Oxidation of alcohols to ketones and aldehydes.
• Oxidation hydroxylamine derivatives.
• Oxidation of arenes to quinones.

It can also be used:

• As a stoichiometric oxidant with chromium (IV) acetate for the oxidation of tertiary C−H bonds to tertiary alcohols.
• In combination with chromium oxide to oxidize primary alcohols to carboxylic acids; alkylbenzenes to benzoic acids; and cyclic benzyl ethers to the corresponding lactones.
• In the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using FeCl₃ as a catalyst.