Potassium Carbonate → 6-Hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A stainless steel pressure autoclave is charged with 50 parts of kerosene and 10 parts of potassium formate and heated to 280° C. 50 bar of carbon monoxide are then injected. Using a metering pump, a mixture comprising 50 parts of potassium naphtholate and 38 parts of potassium carbonate is metered into the reactor as a suspension in kerosene over the course of 5 hours. Some of this kerosene is removed from the reaction vessel by distillation under reduced pressure, and is condensed and expelled. The reaction mixture is worked up conventionally to give 2-hydroxynaphthalene-6-carboxylic acid in a yield of 67% based on the potassium naphtholate employed. Secondary products are 15% of unreacted β-naphthol, 4% of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-3-carboxylic acid and 9% of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-dicarboxylic acid.

Provenance & Evidence