Methane → 4-Acetyl-2-methylbenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

63.9 g (300 mmol) of 4′-bromo-3′-methylacetophenone, 256 g of toluene, 32 g of water, 45.5 g (330 mmol) of potassium carbonate, 9.66 g (30 mmol) of tetra(n-butyl) ammonium bromide, 1.45 g (water content 55.95% by weight) of activated charcoal supported 5% palladium and 0.372 g (0.90 mmol) of 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane were fed into a pressure-tight reactor, and reaction was performed at 120° for 7 hours by pressurizing with carbon monoxide at 0.8 MPa. After cooling the reaction solution to room temperature, inside of the reactor was purged with nitrogen, and then the pressure was reduced to atmosphere pressure. 224 g of water was added, and stirred for 30 minutes. Catalyst was filtered with Celite and the organic phase was separated. 43.8 g (420 mmol) of 35% hydrochloric acid was added to the water phase. The obtained slurry was filtered, and then dried under reduced pressure to obtain 48.1 g of 4-acetyl-2-methylbenzoic acid as white crystal (yield 90%).

Provenance & Evidence