GreenD - 17-1-2012 at 12:19
via routes described elsewhere on the site, could one synthesize 2-hydroxy-propionaldehyde?
what would a metal-catalyzed oxidation do (i.e. pt-pyrdine complex)?
I'm stupid 
GreenD - 17-1-2012 at 12:22
here's a somewhat applicable source, however I am not interested in metallurgy and doping molybdenum into iron :|
http://www.nacatsoc.org/18nam/Orals/181-Oxidation%20of%20Pro...
AndersHoveland - 17-1-2012 at 15:32
I am guessing the yields would be very poor. The central hyroxy group (in the 2-position) is more vulnerable to oxidation than side hydroxy group. And
yields for obtaining aldehydes by oxidation of alcohols are typically very low, since aldehydes are much more vulnerable to oxidation than the initial
alcohol.
There may be regents/catalysts that could selectively oxidize propylene glycol to CH3-CH2(OH)-CH=O, without (or with only minimal) formation of
undesirable hydroxyacetone.
[Edited on 17-1-2012 by AndersHoveland]