Mechanism of methanol oxidation by lead tetra-acetate. The novel intermediacy of formaldehyde hemiacetal

The oxidation of methanol by lead tetra-acetate in methanol solution produces formaldehyde with C–H cleavage in the rate determining step, but the product HCHO, reportedly stable in the presence of Pb(OAc)4 is further oxidized via the methanol hemiacetal to methyl formate.