Synthesis of Phenylacetic Acid via Carbonylation of Benzyl Chloride in the Presence of a Water-Soluble Complex, 2>, and Surfactants under Two-Phase Conditions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.67.2339

The addition of surfactants such as n-C7H15SO3Na or n-C7H15COONa is effective in acceleration of the carboxylation of benzyl chloride using a water-soluble catalyst, 2>, in an aqueous NaOH-heptane solution.Phenylacetic acid is easily isolated from the aqueous layer in high yields.However, the addition of n-C7H15SO3Na has no effect on the carboxylation using hydrophobic catalysts, and , under the two phase conditions.