Water → 2-Benzyltoluene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3,200 parts of concentrated sulfuric acid (98% strength by weight), 400 parts of water and 1,800 parts of 85 per cent strength by weight phosphoric acid is circulated in a reactor by pumping with a centrifugal pump. A solution of 1,680 parts of o-xylyl chloride and 4,680 parts of benzene is added in the course of 31/2 hours at from 75° to 77° C; an emulsion forms. A part of the emulsion is fed continuously from an overflow into a receiver. The inorganic phase is returned to the circulation system and the organic phase is distilled. 2,023 parts (93.6% of theory) of o-benzyltoluene boiling at 98° C at 0.2 mm Hg are isolated.

Provenance & Evidence