Alcohols, secondary, oxidation with sodium bromite

Sodium bromite oxidizes secondary alcohols in preference to primary alcohols. Menthol treated with sodium bromite in aqueous acetic acid at room temperature affords an 86% yield of menthone after 5.5 h [739]. 

Ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate or cerium(IV) sulfate will catalyze the selective oxidation of secondaiy alcohols with sodium bromate as cooxidant, in this case remote C—C double bonds interfere, but 1,2-diols are not cleaved. It has been found that sodium bromite in aqueous acetic acid will act as a selective oxidant for secondary mary diols without the need for other catalysts (Scheme 21). ... 

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