Oxidation-reduction reactions of permanganate solubilized in organic solvents

Permanganates with onium cations, soluble in non-polar and tittle polar org anic solvents, make it possible to oxidize substrates which are insoluble i n water. Permanganate is reduced in these media like in neutral aqueous sol utions. In contrast to older views, the main intermediate in these reaction s is Mn(IV) in the form of colloidal MNO2. The catalytic effect of this int ermediate is associated with its large surface on which the reactants are a dsorbed. Many oxidation reactions with solubilized permanganate exhibit an autocatalytic mechanism.