Method of preparing Phenylacetaldehyde or Phenylacetic acid

1. Production of Phenylethanol from benzene and ethylene oxide

Patent No US1944959

Abstract

In a suitable container in which there has been placed 500 g of anhydrous AlCl₃ there is added 800 g of benzene under stiring, 180 grams ethylene oxide in gaseous form and an equal amount of air are passed through the mixture at 45-55°C until only a small amount of AlCl₃ has been left. The reaction container is constantly externally cooled with circulating water to maintain the desired temperature. The temperature is kept preferably withing the range of about substantially 45°C to about subtantially 55°C but as hereafter seen can range from -20°C upwards. The reaction product obtained is treated in the usual way with ice, seperated and vacuum distilled. In this reaction about 173 g phenylethyl alcohol and only 2 g dibenzyl were formed.

2. Ethylene Oxide

Ethanol is mixed with excess of conc sulphuric acid. Ethyl Hydrogen Sulphate is formed in the cold, but on heating to about 170°C it decomposes into ethylene and sulphuric acid.

When ethylene is mixed with air or oxygen and passed over a silver catalyst at 300°C, it is converted into ethylene oxide, a colourless liquid, BP 11C.

3. Oxidisation Of Phenylethanol (phenyl ethyl alcohol)

According to the strength of the oxidising agent used, phenylethanol can be oxidised to phenylacetaldehyde or phenylacetic acid.

---

Nobodys home

if the temp can range from -22°C on up, then why not chill to 0°C in a salt/water bath?  that way everything is liquid phase and the bubbling is no longer a necessity.  (good post though)

if the temp can range from -22°C on up, then why not chill to 0°C in a salt/water bath?  that way everything is liquid phase and the bubbling is no longer a necessity.
Because it probably doesn't work very well at that temperature. The patent states that the best temperature is 45-55°C. When reading patents you have to remember that the purpose of a patent is not to claim just the optimal conditions but, just the opposite, to claim all possible conditions.

Terbium, thanks.  that's kinda what aurelius figured but thought it was worth a shot.

Would usage of propylene oxide afford P2Pol?

---

Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

PP: Yes.

But will nonaqueous hypochlorite coordinate with aluminum chloride? (please say no)  

---

Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

Going for a one-pot-shot at P2P?...  

Do you remember

Post 270904

(PrimoPyro: "Grignard P2Pol In Situ Oxidation", Novel Discourse)? T'would be a neat trick to pull off in one pot, would it not?  

                                                    PrimoPyro

---

Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

PrimoPyro, give it a whirl and post the results.  It would be AWESOME to see a synth like that.

The patent also mentions phenylpropyl alcohol and isomers from benzene and propylene oxide.

Propylene Oxide

Propylene could probably be made by the depolymerisation of Polypropylene, or in the usual way with conc sulphuric acid and isopropyl alcohol.

Propylene > Propylene oxide (watch this space)

Phenyl(iso?)propyl alcohol can then be worked up to goodies

---

Nobodys home

When Ethylene glycol is treated with HCl it is converted to Ethylene Chlorhydrin.

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000296888-file_gng2.jpg" title="View this image">

Strong alkali converts Chlorhydrins into Alkylene Oxides

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000296888-file_5cpu.jpg" title="View this image">

EDIT Chlorine water converts olefins (ethylene/propylene) to chlorohydrins as well.

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000296888-file_gy3q.jpg" title="View this image">

---

Nobodys home

2,3-propanediol should work with HCl as well.  It would bee easier to get than gaseous propylene.

---

Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety

You people did know that propylene oxide is available as a fuel additive for racing cars by the multigallon drum, did you not?

I mean come on now, what was I thinking when I bought that 5 gallon drum of methanol, 1 gallon of nitromethane, and 1 gallon of propylene oxide for my dragster?  

                                                  PrimoPyro

---

Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

I was vaguely under the impression that propylene oxide was not a permitted additive.

Well, it is up for sale as an additive in the US, and available for the same at a few Online Places as well.

Check your PMs for details.

                                                 PrimoPyro

---

Vivent Longtemps La Ruche!

OMG! They sell propylene oxide to the fucking public?? That shit isn't healthy at all.
And I'm not sure if I like to see inexperienced bees working with stuff like ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or even epichlorohydrin either.

---

I'm not fat just horizontally disproportionate.

Help !

Can any body help me with another name for 2,3-propanediol that foxy mentioned earlier, or even a formula ?

What do you think about the possiblity of changing aluminium chloride for another lewis acid (Iron chloride) in the reaction between benzene and the propylene oxide ?

---

Don't cry for me I'm the cleaner

Elementary: The proper name is 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol).

The patent mentions that the usage of propylene oxide will afford phenylpropyl alcohol and isomers.

So I guess the main products will be :

Phenylpropyl Alcohol (Hydrocinnamic Alcohol ?)
Phenylisopropyl Alcohol
Any others ?

So if phenylisopropyl alcohol can be oxidised to 1 Phenyl 2 Propanone (P2P), what does phenylpropyl alcohol get oxidised to ?

And what determines if an secondary alcohol oxidises to an aldehyde(then to an acid) or an ketone ?

---

Don't cry for me I'm the cleaner