Catalytic Oxidation of Benzaldehyde to Benzoic Acid With Cu(II) Methanesulfonate

The water-stable Lewis acid, cupric methanesulfonate was synthesized by using copper oxide and methanesulfonic acid. The product was analyzed by SDT 2960 TGA-TDA, it was testified that there are four crystal water in cupric methanesulfonate, i.e. (CH3SO3)2Cu·4H2O. By using (CH3SO3)2Cu·4H2O as the catalyst and 30% H2O as the oxidant, some factors, catalyst dosage, oxidant dosage, H2O2 concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature etc., on the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid were examined. After purification and drying, the product was determined by melting point and infrared spectrometry. The result indicates that (CH3SO3)2Cu·4H2O can efficiently catalyzed the oxidation of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid, which is the one and only product, and the yield can get 70% under the reaction condition of reaction temperature 40 ℃, 1% catalyst, the mole ratio of n(H2O2)∶ n(benzaldehyde) =3∶1 and n(catalyst)∶ n(benzaldehyde)=1∶100,and reaction time 16 h.