Benzene → Benzoic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 0.2 mol of chlorocyclohexane and 0.2 mol of benzene is added dropwise to a suspension of 0.4 mol of lithium granules, 0.21 mol of potassium tert-butoxide and 35 mg of biphenyl in 300 g of THF at −72° C. After a conversion of the chlorocyclohexane of >97% determined by means of GC (total of 24 h), carbon dioxide is passed in until saturation is achieved. The work-up is carried out by a method analogous to that in example 3; benzoic acid is obtained in a yield of 79%.

Provenance & Evidence