Structural elucidation of a C₈H₁₂ olefin from hydrogenation and oxidative cleavage (KMnO₄)
An olefin with molecular formula C₈H₁₂ absorbs two moles of hydrogen upon catalytic hydrogenation. When treated with potassium permanganate in basic medium, it yields carbon dioxide and 3,6-dioxoheptanoic acid. Determine the three possible structures of the starting olefin consistent with these data.
I have attempted the problem extensively over the past few days and obtained the following structure:
1-methyl-4-methylidenecyclohex-1-ene
However, I am not confident in its correctness and I have not been able to systematically derive additional valid structures.
Any guidance or complete solutions would be greatly appreciated.
u/Just_Strawberry6905 — 1 day ago