Acetic Acid → Benzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

200 g solution in acetic acid and containing 4.0 g catalyst consisting 85% cobaltic acetate 8% ferric acetate, 5% cobaltous acetate, and 2% ferrous acetic and 50 g toluene was reacted with oxygen at a space velocity of 40 h-1 at 85° C. for four hours. The oxidation product on and work up yielded 61.7 g benzoic acid, 2.1 g benzaldehyde and 1.0 g unreacted toluene. This corresponded to 98% hydrocarbon conversion and 95% selectivity to benzoic acid and more than 40% benzaldehyde.

Provenance & Evidence