Pyridinium Trifluoroacetate

Pyridinium TrifluoroacetateThe Cornforth Reagent, also known as pyridinium dichromate (PDC) is dichromate’s pyridinium-based salt which has the formula of [C5H5NH]2[Cr2O7. The compound’s name is derived from the British-Australian chemist Sir John Warcup Cornforth (b. 1917) who first introduced it in the year 1962.

The Cornforth Reagent is an oxidizing agent that converts both secondary and primary alcohols into ketones and aldehydes, and ketones, respectively. In terms of chemical structure and properties, it is closely linked to other compounds derived from Hexavalent chromium Oxides, such as pyridinium chlorochromate, and Collins reagent. Due to their toxic nature, the reagents aren’t widely employed in modern times.