aldehydes and ketones contains the same functional group, the carbonyl group (> C = O).

Aldehydes behave as reducing agents due to presence of reducing hydrogen atom where as ketones have no such
property so aldehydes easily reacts with oxidising agent. Even HCOOH shows some properties of carbonyl
compounds due to presence of CHO group. HCOOH behaves as reducing agent while in other acids no reducing
hydrogen atom, so no reaction with oxidising agent.



Preparation



(i) Oxidation of aIcohoIs



(a) From PCC or pyredeniumchlorochromate. Which is pyridine, CrO3 and HCl, in equal ratio







By Jones reagent (CrO3 and aq. CH3COCH3) reaction goes till acids as it is a strong oxidising agent where as by
PCC and Collins reagent reaction stops at aldehyde.



(ii) Rosenmund's reduction



Reduction of acid halide into aldehydes by Pd and BaSO4 is known as rosenmund reduction, only aldehydes can be
prepared by this reaction.





HCOCl break down into CO + HCl so the first aldehyde from rosenmund reduction is CH3CHO. Here Pd act as
catalyst and BaSO4 as catalytic poison to prevent conversion of aldehyde into alcohol by further reduction.

(iii) Stephan's Reduction



When Cyanides are partially reduced by means of stannous chloride and hydrochloric acid followed by hydrolysis
yield aldehyde. Ketones can not be prepared by this process.




Here [H2SnCl4] is formed which works as powerful reducing agent.




(iv) Oxidation of aIkyI haIide by dimethyI suIphoxide