Benzyl alcohol prepn. from benzyl halide - by reacting with alkali formate and then with alcohol

摘要

Benzyl alcohol opt. substd. on the ring is prepd. by reacting benzyl chloride and/or bromide, opt. substd. on the ring, with an alkali(ne earth) metal formate in the presence of a catalyst and then reacting the benzyl formate formed with an alcohol to cause transesterification, in the presence of a catalyst. Transesterification is pref. effected without a solvent at a temp. at which the benzyl halide is in the liquid phase. Reaction of the benzyl halide with the metal formate takes place directly in the bulk so that the reaction volume in the reactor is used its optimum. Reaction occurs at normal pressure with high yields of benzyl formate. The inorganic halide formed as by-prod. is easily separated from the benzyl formates. The benzyl alcohols are obtd. as such or as very conc. solns. in alcohol and can be isolated simply.