Benzyl alcohol benzoic acid

A //-hexane solution containing ///-xylene and spread as a thin film (4 mm) on cold water (10 °C) was irradiated by a mercury medium pressure lamp. In 3 h, 25% of the ///-xylene photooxidized into ///-methylbenzaldehyde, ///-benzyl alcohol, ///-benzoic acid, and m methylacetophenone (Moza and Feicht, 1989). 

Anonymous Final report on the safety assessment of benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, and sodium benzoate. Int 1 Toxicol 20(suppl 3) 23-50, 2001... 

Marci et al. [233] concluded that the presence of O2, a catalyst and irradiation was required for toluene degradation. They found that the intermediate breakdown products were benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid and benzaldehyde. However, the benzaldehyde was only generated in small quantities and large amounts of benzoic acid were found adsorbed onto the catalyst surface. With the two forms of Ti(>2 used in this study, Degussa P25 and Merck, it was observed that the P25 material deactivated even in the presence of water vapour. 

Which of the two is the cis form and which the trans form has not been determined. A third cinnamic acid, viz., iso-cinnamic acid, is also known, but the constitution of it has not been established. Cinnamic acid is found in nature in the resin storax both as the free acid and as the cinnamic alcohol ester, styrin. It is also found in Peru and Tolu balsams as the free acid and as the benzyl alcohol ester, the benzoic acid ester of benzyl alcohol being present also. Thus benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, cinnamic alcohol and cinnamic acid are all constituents of esters present in these plant resins. Allo-cinnamic acid, the geometric isomer, is obtained from coca leaves from which the alkaloid cocaine is also obtained (p. 896). When cinnamic acid is heated with lime it loses carbon dioxide and yields the unsaturated side-chain hydrocarbon st3rrene, or phenyl ethylene, CeHs—CH = CH2. On reduction it yields first cinnamic aldehyde, found in oil of cinnamon (p. 842) and then cinnamic alcohol. Both cinnamic acid and allo-cinnamic acid yield anhydrides. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, acetic acid ... 

F.p. — 56-6 to — 56-9°. M.p. - 26°. B.p. 179°/75l mm., 62°/10 mm. Sol. 300 parts 1 0. Misc. with EtOH, Et O. 1 0504. Vdla-tife in steam. Forms bisulphite comp. Reduces NH3.AgNOa but not FehUng s. NaHg —> benzyl alcohol. EasUy ox. to benzoic add. PGg —> benzyUdoie chlcnide, Condmises with primary amines yielding Schiff bases e.g., aniline —> . benzylideneaniline. NH, —> hydrobenzamide. KCN — benzoia, NjaOfi —y benzyl alcohol - - benzoic acid. 

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