Why does some kind of matter like potassium permanganate dissolve into other kind of matter whereas other kind of matter like wood doesn't dissolve ?

potassium permanganate dissolve because of the polarity of the water molecules which make it a good solvent for the elements that form ions 
although for the wood which is an organic molecule which doesn't have an atomic charge what so ever it ca't take advantage of that polarity but it can be dissolved with organic solvants

Well to my expert knowledge and my exquisite calculations i think the the negative ion # 412 is the key to sucess