Benzyl Alcohol → Benzoic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Potassium permanganate (3.16 g, 0.02 mol) in water (35 ml) was stirred for 10 minutes and then cooled in a water bath while phenylacetonitrile or benzyl alcohol (0.011 mol), benzene (20 ml) and the catalyst (Table 5) (1mmol) were added. The mixture was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature and worked up by addition of 4% sodium bisulphite (60 ml), acidification with 2N hydrochloric acid, separation of organic layer and extraction of the aqueous layer with benzene (2×20 ml). The combined organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulphate and the solvent evaporated on a rotary evaporator. Recrystallization of the solid residue obtained gives pure benzoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence