Conversion of Toluene into benzene

Explanation

To convert toluene into benzene, we can follow a two-step process involving oxidation and decarboxylation. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the procedure:

### Step 1: Oxidation of Toluene to Benzoic Acid
1. **React Toluene with Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)**:
- Toluene (C6H5CH3) is treated with an oxidizing agent, potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in an alkaline medium. This oxidation process converts the methyl group (-CH3) of toluene into a carboxylic acid group (-COOH).
- The reaction can be represented as:
\[
C_6H_5CH_3 + [O] \rightarrow C_6H_5COOH
...