Lead tetraacetate in organic synthesis

Lead tetraacetate (LTA),a versatile oxidizing agent for different functional groups, has been widely used for oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acid, cleavage of 1,2-diol, formation of the cyclic ether, acetoxylation, methylation, dehydrogenation etc. The present micro review describes the utility of LTA in 1,2-glycol-cleavage and decarboxylation of carboxylic acid.