Barium dichromate [BaCr2O7], a mild reagent for oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls in non-aqueous polar aprotic media

Barium dichromate is used as a mild oxidizing agent for the selective conversion of primary and secondary alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, respectively. Over-oxidation does not occur and primary alcohols undergo oxidation to the aldehyde. Primary and secondary benzylic alcohols are oxidized faster and more efficiently.