Dichromate may be out of reach for some bees, like me. KMnO4 on the other hand is easy to buy and make. So I wonder, Mr. Rhodium, or anyone who gets here first and knows the answer:
Since we know Piperic acid + KMnO4
__> MD-Ph-COOH
Could you then just make the calcium salt and react with calcium formate to yield the aldehyde (piperonal) a la halfapints method for benzaldehyde?
PrimoPyro
How does one win a race when the finish line runs faster than you?