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Permanganate Oxidation of Cyclohexane, Cyclohexene, and Cyclohexanol

Cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and cyclohexanol are added to potassium permanganate solution.

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Narrative
Purple alkaline potassium permanganate is treated with cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and cyclohexanol. Oxidation of cyclohexene and cyclohexanol is revealed by the formation of the green manganate ion.

Discussion
Alkaline potassium permanganate is treated with cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and cyclohexanol. The cyclohexene reacts more rapidly than cyclohexanol. Cyclohexane does not react.

The secondary alcohol cyclohexanol is oxidized by permanganate to give the ketone cyclohexanone. The alkene cyclohexene reacts to give cis-1,2-cyclohenanediol. The permanganate ion is reduced to the green manganate ion.