The oxidation of an alcohol to a carboxylic acid using potassium permanganate KMnO4 as the oxidizing agent typically proceeds through the following steps:1. Formation of the alkoxide ion:The alcohol R-OH reacts with a strong base typically hydroxide ions, OH- to form an alkoxide ion R-O- . This step is necessary to increase the nucleophilicity of the oxygen atom in the alcohol.R-OH + OH- R-O- + H2O2. Nucleophilic attack on the permanganate ion:The alkoxide ion R-O- acts as a nucleophile and attacks the manganese atom in the permanganate ion MnO4- , breaking one of the Mn=O double bonds and forming a new bond between the oxygen atom of the alkoxide ion and the manganese atom.R-O- + MnO4- R-O-MnO33. Rearrangement and formation of the carbonyl group:The intermediate species R-O-MnO3 undergoes a rearrangement, which involves the transfer of a hydride ion H- from the carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen atom to the manganese atom. This results in the formation of a carbonyl group C=O and a manganese-containing byproduct.R-O-MnO3 R-C=O + Mn-containing byproduct4. Hydrolysis of the carbonyl group:The carbonyl group C=O is hydrolyzed in the presence of water, forming a carboxylic acid R-COOH .R-C=O + H2O R-COOHOverall, the reaction mechanism for the formation of a carboxylic acid from an alcohol using potassium permanganate involves the formation of an alkoxide ion, nucleophilic attack on the permanganate ion, rearrangement to form a carbonyl group, and hydrolysis to form the carboxylic acid.