Question

Which of the following alcohols needs acidic KMnO₄ to convert it into aldehyde or ketone?

Options

• Propan-2-ol

• Propan-1-ol

• Ethanol

• 2-methyl propan-2-ol

Answer 1

2-methyl propan-2-ol

Explanation:

To convert 2-methyl propan-2-ol to ketone, acidic KMnO₄ is required.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{...........}\ce{OH}\phantom{....................}\ce{O}\phantom{}\\
\phantom{...........}|\phantom{.......................}||\phantom{}\\
\ce{H3C - C - CH3 ->[Acidic KMnO4]}\\
\phantom{................}|\phantom{....................}/\phantom{....}\backslash\phantom{....}\\
\phantom{.....}\ce{\underset{\text{2-methyl propan-2-ol (3° alcohol)}}{CH3}}\phantom{}\ce{H3C}\phantom{..}\ce{CH3}\phantom{}
\end{array}\]

Under strong reaction conditions such as powerful oxidising agents (KMnO₄) and extreme temperature, cleavage of various C-C bonds occurs.