Question

What happens when ethylene glycol reacts with hio4???

Answer 1

PERIODATE CLEAVAGE OF 1,2-DIOLS

The mechanism is not trivial, so attention here is focussed on the actual cleavage step. Prior to this, the alcohol reacts to form a cyclic periodate ester (shown). The periodate ester undergoes arearrangement of the electrons, cleaving the C-C bond, and forming two C=O. periodate cleavage of 1,2-diols