Final answer:
a. PCC (Pyridinium Chlorochromate)
The most suitable reagent for converting 2-hexanol to 2-hexanone is Pyridinium Chlorochromate (PCC), as it is a mild oxidant that specifically turns secondary alcohols into ketones without over-oxidizing to carboxylic acids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate reagent(s) for the conversion of 2-hexanol to 2-hexanone is Pyridinium Chlorochromate (PCC). This is because PCC is a mild oxidizing agent that is commonly used to oxidize secondary alcohols to ketones.
Choices b and d, Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) respectively, are not suitable for this conversion. NaBH4 is a reducing agent which would not oxidize the alcohol, but rather reduce compounds like ketones and aldehydes. KMnO4 is a very strong oxidizing agent that could oxidize the 2-hexanol much further than desired, possibly to a carboxylic acid.
On the other hand, Chromium trioxide (CrO3) is indeed a strong oxidizing agent used for oxidizing alcohols, but it is typically used in the presence of a stronger acid such as H2SO4 in the Jones oxidation, which risks over-oxidizing the alcohol to a carboxylic acid as well. Thus, for the specific transformation of 2-hexanol to 2-hexanone, PCC (Pyridinium Chlorochromate) is the most appropriate choice.