Benzyl Alcohol → Benzyl acrylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

144 g (2 mols) of acrylic acid, which have been inhibited with 1.4 g of hydroquinone monomethyl ether, are dissolved in 139 g of a high-boiling aromatics mixture in a 1 l four-necked flask with stirrer, contact thermometer, water separator and gas inlet tube. 3.2 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid are added thereto, the mixture is heated to 70° C. and, at this temperature, 216 g (2 mols) of benzyl alcohol are allowed to run in over a period of 10 minutes. After the end of the addition, the mixture is heated to reflux. To accelerate the removal of water, air is passed through the solution. The reaction is complete after about 5 hours. The progress of the reaction is monitored via the acid number. After 5 hours, the latter gives a conversion of about 97%.

Provenance & Evidence