Formic Acid → Formanilide

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Nitrobenzene (12.31 g, 100 mmol), formic acid (80%; 278 mL, 328.0 g), a sulfided platinum catalyst (5% Pt on charcoal, Engelhard No. 43045, lot No. 08554; dry weight 1.55 g) and vanadium(v) oxide (57 mg) were charged under argon in a double-walled 0.3 L stirring vessel with temperature control. The argon flow was stopped and the slurry was heated to 91-94° C. for 2 h. HPLC analysis of the reaction mixture indicated a 79.9% yield of formanilide, accompanied by 18.3% of aniline.

Provenance & Evidence