How would you convert ethanal into propanone?

To convert ethanal (acetaldehyde) into propanone (acetone), you can perform an oxidative reaction. One common method is to first oxidize ethanal to acetic acid using an oxidizing agent like potassium dichromate or chromium trioxide, followed by a further oxidation step to convert acetic acid into propanone, typically through a process like thermal decarboxylation or by using a strong dehydrating agent. Alternatively, you can also achieve this transformation via a condensation reaction of ethanal followed by rearrangement, but the oxidative route is more straightforward.