Benzoic Acid → Isodecanol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

2 moles); benzoic acid (250 grams; 2.05 moles), toluene (100 ml) and para toluene sulfonic acid (2 grams) were placed into a glass reaction flask equipped with stirrer, thermometer, heating mantle, 12" column packed with 1/4" glass rings, Dean-Stark water trap, and condenser. The temperature increased from 26° C. to 187° C. as the reaction proceeded with stirring Then the reaction mixture was cooled to 100° C. Soda ash (100 ml; 20% solution) was added to the mixture and was followed by the addition of a mixture of soda ash (50 ml; 20% solution) and chlorox (100 ml) at 81°-100° C. The alkaline bottom layer was separated from the mixture. After the mixture was dried, the toluene was removed by heating the mixture to 178° C. at 45 mmHg. The desired product (515 grams) was obtained after filtration, representing a yield of 98.3%.

Provenance & Evidence