Tiglath M. answered • 02/01/16
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UC Berkeley Grad for Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biology Tutoring
Hi Yoshani
Could you please specify whether the compound has a benzene group or not. By just giving the molecular formula it is impossible to tell what would happen when potassium permanganate is added.
The general rule for alkyl benzenes is that when they are treated with potassium permanganate they are converted to benzoic acids. This reaction only works for primary and secondary alkyl benzenes. The reaction does not work with tertiary akly benzenes since the benzylic position does not contain an acidic proton.
Note: The conversion of an alkyl benzene to a benzoic acid occurs because alkyl benzenes have benzylic positions.
In your case it seems to me that a series of reactions need to happen to convert the ketone to a benzoic acid.
