Oxidation of Alcohols with Pyridinium Chlorochromate: Primary and secondary alcohols are smoothly oxidized by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) in CH₂Cl₂ to form aldehydes and ketones, respectively. The PCC oxidation of primary alcohols to give aldehydes is a very useful reaction, since aldehydes are difficult to prepare and are easily over-oxidized to the carboxylic acid.

Oxidation of Alcohols with "Jones Reagent": Primary and secondary alcohols are oxidized by CrO₃/H₂SO₄ (Jones Reagent) to form carboxylic acids and ketones, respectively; sodium dichromate in acetic acid (Na₂Cr₂O₇) can also be used.

Ozonolysis of Alkenes: Simple alkenes are oxidized by O₃ to form an intermediate ozonide, which undergoes dissolving metal reduction with Zn/H₃O⁺ to produce aldehydes and ketones.

Oxidation of Alkenes: Simple alkenes are oxidized by MnO₄^- to produce aldehydes and ketones. Terminal alkenes yield CO₂, while alkene carbons bearing one hydrogen form the corresponding carboxylic acid.

Hydration of Alkynes: Acid-catalyzed hydration of alkynes in the presence of Hg⁺² yields an intermediate enol, which rapidly equilibrates with the corresponding carbonyl compound. The regiochemistry of the reaction is "Markovnikov"; that is, hydroxide anion will bond to the most stable potential carbocation center of the alkyne.

Hydroboration of an Alkyne, with Oxidative Work-up: Reaction of an alkyne with BH₃ results in the syn-addition of the boron and a hydrogen across the triple bond. Rearrangements do not occur and the hydrogen will bond to the carbon of the alkyne which would form the most stable carbocation center (overall anti-Markovnikov's addition). The driving force for the regiochemistry may actually be more steric than electronic, but viewing the reaction as a concerted, but polar transition state, easily rationalizes the observed product distribution. On oxidative work-up, the borane is converted to the enol, which rapidly equilibrates with the corresponding carbonyl compound.

Friedel-Crafts Acylation: Arenes react with acid halides and acid anhydrides in the presence of AlCl₃ to form aryl ketones. This is an example of electrophilic aromatic substitution, and the reaction does not proceed well on rings which are strongly deactivated.