Organic Synthesis

Much like the chromium-based oxidations, potassium permanganate oxidizes primary alcohols to carboxylic acids and secondary alcohols to ketones.

There are arguments about the mechanism of this oxidation, however, it plausible and widely accepted by many instructors if you show a mechanism involving an E2 elimination just like we have been doing for the other oxidation reactions.

Reaction of the alcohol with KMnO₄ sets up a good leaving group in form of HMnO₄