Carbon Dioxide → Sodium Phenylacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, chlorotoluene is contacted with sodium which is dispersed in an inert organic solvent at 0° C to 50° C, preferably 10° C to 40° C for 5 minutes to 2 hours preferably about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Thereafter, rearrangement of the tolylsodium to benzylsodium is accomplished by heating the reaction mixture to 40° C to 150° C, preferably 50° C to 120° C for 1 hour to 10 hours preferably 3 hours to 7 hours. After the rearrangement reacting, carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the reaction mixture at room temperature or solid carbon oxide is added to the reaction mixture at room temperature and then the reaction is conducted to produce sodium phenylacetate. Thereafter, a mineral acid is added to the reaction mixture to produce phenylacetic acid; as shown in the first embodiment.

Provenance & Evidence