Oxidative Cleavage
Hardchemistry
Hot KMnO4 oxidation of terminal alkene yields carboxylic acid and:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Carbon dioxide (if at terminal carbon) and carboxylic acid
- Reagent Power: Hot, acidified or alkaline KMnO4 is an extremely vigorous oxidant that causes oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds.
- Internal Double Bonds: Cleave to form two carboxylic acids (or ketones depending on substitution).
- Terminal Double Bonds: Specifically, the =CH2 group is first oxidized to formaldehyde (HCHO) or formic acid (HCOOH).
- Over-oxidation: Formic acid is extremely susceptible to further oxidation and is promptly converted to Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water.
- Summary: A terminal alkene R−CH=CH2 will yield R−COOH and CO2.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- oxygen organics
- Topic
- oxidative cleavage
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Carbon dioxide (if at terminal carbon) and carboxylic acid
- Reagent Power: Hot, acidified or alkaline KMnO4 is an extremely vigorous oxidant that causes oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds.
- Internal Double Bonds: Cleave to form two carboxylic acids (or ketones depending on substitution).
- Terminal Double Bonds: Specifically, the =CH2 group is first oxidized to formaldehyde (HCHO) or formic acid (HCOOH).
- Over-oxidation: Formic acid is extremely susceptible to further oxidation and is promptly converted to Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water.
- Summary: A terminal alkene R−CH=CH2 will yield R−COOH and CO2.
This hard difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter oxygen organics, covering the topic of oxidative cleavage. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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