Which of the following compounds can be oxidized by periodic acid ( HIO ₄ )?

Step-by-step solution

Periodic acid ( HIO ₄ ) is an oxidizing agent that cleaves carbon-carbon bonds in compounds containing adjacent (vicinal) functional groups such as diols, -hydroxy ketones, -diketones, -hydroxy aldehydes, and -amino alcohols. Let us analyze the given compounds: 1. Hexane-3,4-diol: It contains two adjacent hydroxyl groups ( -OH ) on carbons 3 and 4. This is a vicinal diol, which undergoes oxidative cleavage by HIO ₄ to form two molecules of propanal. 2. 4-hydroxyhexan-3-one: It contains a hydroxyl group on carbon 4