Formic Acid → 2-Propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 103.2 g of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloro-3-phenylpropane, 114 g of 85% formic acid and 4.2 g of 93% sulphuric acid is refluxed under stirring at a temperature in the range 100° to 110° C. for 6 h with evolution of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide. The reaction mixture is cooled, the crystals so precipitated are filtered off and washed with water to give 51.5 g of cinnamic acid in total yield of 98 per cent (melting point 127° to 133° C., min. 98% purity).

Provenance & Evidence