3-Phenylprop-2-En-1-Ol → Benzenepropanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a 300 ml nickel autoclave are charged cinnamyl alcohol (50.0 g, 0.37 mol), sodium hydroxide (34.6 g, 0.43 mol), the catalyst of Example 2 (12.8 g catalyst suspended in 48.6 g water) and water (75 g). The autoclave is sealed and purged with nitrogen. The autoclave is heated under pressure of 1.0×106Pascals to 170° C. After hydrogen evolution ceases, the reaction product filtered and the basic filtrate is extracted with diethylether. The aqueous phase is acidified and extracted with ether. The acid and base extracts are evaporated and analyzed. The reaction yields sodium 3-phenylpropionate (69 mol percent), 3-phenylpropanol (25 mol percent) and sodium benzoate (8 mol percent).

Provenance & Evidence