Final answer:
The statement is true; oxidation of alcohols creates a new electrophilic center and enables further chemical synthesis. Primary alcohols can be oxidized to form aldehydes and then carboxylic acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oxidation of alcohol functional groups creates a new electrophilic center that is useful in synthetic chemistry. Specifically, a primary alcohol gets oxidized to an aldehyde, and with further oxidation, it can become a carboxylic acid. The initial nucleophilic attack transforms the alcohol into an aldehyde, after which the aldehyde can undergo additional nucleophilic attack by water, leading to a hydrated form. This hydrated aldehyde can then be oxidized to yield the carboxyl group.
During this process, the alcohol functional group provides the site of reactivity, with changes occurring due to the oxidation reactions. Primary alcohols are especially important as their oxidation follows a distinct path: an aldehyde is formed first, and with subsequent oxidation, a carboxylic acid is produced. Nucleophilic attacks typically involve the creation of new bonds to carbon atoms that have increased electrophilic character due to the initial oxidation.