ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pfitzner–Moffatt oxidation

Have you ever heard of "cooking" chemicals to make new substances? Well, scientists do this all the time, and one of the ways they do it is through a process called the Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation. This is like making a recipe by mixing different ingredients in a certain way to get a different delicious food.

When scientists need to make a new chemical, they sometimes start with a certain type of molecule called an alcohol. You might have heard of alcohol like the kind grown-ups drink, but there are many different kinds of alcohol that scientists use in their experiments.

The Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation is a way to turn an alcohol into a new type of molecule called a ketone. A ketone is a type of molecule that is used in lots of different things like medicine, flavors, and perfumes.

Now, to make this happen, scientists mix the alcohol with some other chemicals called a "reagent" and "chlorine". The mixture is then cooked or heated up just like cooking food. A special machine called a "rotovap" is used to control the temperature and remove any extra ingredients.

When the mixture is finished cooking, scientists are left with a brand new molecule called a ketone that they can use for their experiments or to create new products. And that's what the Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation is all about - making new molecules for lots of different things, just like cooking a delicious meal!