Preparative methods for small scale reactions for research or for production of fine chemicals often employ expensive consumable reagents.
* Oxidation of primary alcohols or aldehydes with strong oxidants such as potassium dichromate, Jones reagent, potassium permanganate, or sodium chlorite. The method is more suitable for laboratory conditions than the industrial use of air, which is "greener" because it yields less inorganic side products such as chromium or manganese oxides.
* Oxidative cleavage of olefins by ozonolysis, potassium permanganate, or potassium dichromate.
* Hydrolysis of nitriles, esters, or amides, usually with acid- or base-catalysis.
* Carbonation of a Grignard reagent and organolithium reagents:
* Halogenation followed by hydrolysis of methyl ketones in the haloform reaction
* Base-catalyzed cleavage of non-enolizable ketones, especially aryl ketones: