Benzyl Alcohol → Benzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Cobalt (II) acetate tetrahydrate (0.5 g, 0.002 moles), sodium bromide (0.5 g, 0.005 moles), benzyl alcohol (2.93 g, 0.027 moles) and acetic acid (25 g) were charged to a vessel fitted with a overhead paddle stirrer, thermometer and condenser and heated to 80° C. Hydrogen peroxide (30%, 0.22 moles) was added dropwise down the condenser over two hours during which time the reaction mixture changed colour from deep blue to pink. The reaction was continued for a further 90 minutes after which it was stopped and analysed by HPLC. The analysis revealed that 99.0% of the benzyl alcohol had been consumed, yielding products including benzaldehyde (50.2% yield) and benzoic acid (48.8% yield).

Provenance & Evidence