Oxidative cleavage product of butan-2-one

Steps:

• Identify CH3CH2COCH3 as butan-2-one (CH3C(O)CH2CH3), an unsymmetrical ketone.
• Hot concentrated acidified KMnO4 cleaves the C-C bond at the carbonyl under vigorous oxidation.
• The CH3C(O)- fragment oxidizes to CH3COOH; the -CH2CH3 fragment oxidizes to CH3CH2COOH.
• CH3COOH is thus one product, validating option D.

Why D is correct:

• Vigorous oxidation with hot concentrated acidified KMnO4 converts ketones RC(O)R' to RCOOH and R'COOH via carbon chain cleavage.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Ketones resist hydrolysis; only esters hydrolyze to alcohols and carboxylic acids.
• B: Ethanoic acid reacts with alcohols via esterification to form esters like CH3COOR, not ketones.
• C: Alkaline I2 (iodoform test) is positive for aldehydes and alcohols oxidizable to CH3CHO, not ketones.

Final answer: D