Chemistry Forum

KMnO₄ + C₅H₈O₂ = Mn(acac)₃ + ??

water was added too

The result depends on what C₅H₈O₂ compund is. There are many possible isomers:
valerolactone? Ethylacrylate?

Its acetylacetone (acac)

In acetylacetone complex Mn is 3+ while permanganate has Mn(7+). If this reaction takes place, acetylacetone (or 2,4-pentanedione) must oxidize and then excess of acetylacetone should react with Mn(3+) product of reduction.

To know exactly what is going on you have to read the papers on that subject:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 7/abstract
http://course1.winona.edu/cmiertschin/4 ... ac_lab.pdf

As you can see from the second report, they use Mn(2+) compound as a reducing agent. Without that compound acetylacetone can be a reducing agent and the product of oxidation most likely will be potassium acetate and pyruvate:

CH₃COCH₂COCH₃ <===> CH₃COCH=C(OH)CH₃ --(KMnO₄)--> CH₃COCOOK + CH₃COOK

Thanks that helps