An efficient and convenient procedure for the oxidation of acetylenic
alcohols and diols by o-iodoxybenzoic
acid (IBX) is reported. Simple heating of the corresponding alcohol
with a suspension of IBX in acetone or tetrahydrofuran leads to
the silicon(germanium)-containing propynals or γ-hydroxypropynals in high yields.
propargyl alcohols - acetylenic diols - oxidation - IBX - propynals