Question

What aromatic products would you obtain from the ${\mathbf{KMnO}}_4$oxidation of the following substances?

a.

b.

Short answer

a.

b.

Step-by-step solution

Oxidation of Aromatic Compounds

The benzene ring is inert to oxidizing agents like${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ and${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$ .The alkyl side chains comprising benzylic hydrogen are oxidized to carboxyl groups by these reagents. Compounds that do not possess benzylic hydrogen atoms are not oxidized.

Aromatic compounds obtained from the oxidation of different compounds 

(a)The given compound 1-isopropyl-3-nitrobenzene reacts with${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ and${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ to form 3-nitrobenzoic acid. The reaction can be given as:

Reaction(a)

(b)The given compound, 1-(tert-butyl)-4-methylbenzene reacts with ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$and ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$to form 4-(tert-butyl)benzoic acid. The reaction can be given as:

Reaction(b)