Phenylacetic acid another way

[PrimoPyro]

Secondary alcohols never become aldehydes or acids. Primary alcohols go through those reactions, and secondary alcohols become ketones.

The other side product of this reaction would be 2-phenyl-1-propanol, which would oxidize to 2-phenylpropanal, which in turn can stil be changed into P2P a la Rhodium's site, with H2SO4 or HgCl2.

The phenylpropyl alcohol would oxidize to phenylpropanal, the aldehyde, or phenylpropionic acid, the carboxylic acid.

                                                 PrimoPyro
Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

[Elementary]

The phenylpropyl alcohol would oxidize to phenylpropanal, the aldehyde, or phenylpropionic acid, the carboxylic acid.

So does phenylpropyl alcohol not behave like a secondary alcohol then ?
Don't cry for me I'm the cleaner

[PrimoPyro]

Phenylpropyl alcohol is a primary alcohol. Phenylpropanol is 1-phenyl-3-propanol, and is a primary alcohol.

Phenylisopropanol is 1-phenyl-2-propanol, and is a secondary alcohol.

2-phenyl-1-propanol is also a primary alcohol, and yields 2-phenylpropanal upon oxidation.

                                                  PrimoPyro
Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

[terbium]

Secondary alcohols never become aldehydes or acids.
Not true, especially when the hydrogens next to the alcohol are benzylic, the secondary alcohol can be oxidzed to an acid.

[PrimoPyro]

But only when accompanied by either a rearrangement or a C-C fission, which I had omitted the possibility of for this thread's topic.

                                                 PrimoPyro
Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

[lugh]

This article from Journal of Applied Chemistry USSR (Engl. Trans.) 32, 891-4 (1959) by Etlis and Grobov may bee of interest to some bees    

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000296888-etlis.djvu" target="_blank" title="Download this file">