Popoff's or Popov's Rule ?
Oxidation of unsymmetrical ketone are governed by Popoff's rule which states that during the oxidation of an unsymmetrical ketone, the cleavage of the C-CO bond is such that the keto group always stays with the smaller alkyl group. Aleksandr Popov, a Russian chemist, gives Popoff's rule in 1871 while working with August Kekulé and E.K. Theodor Zinkce in Bonn.
For example, CH3CH2COCH2CH2CH3 on oxidation with HNO3 gives two moles of propanoic acid.
