Synthesis of Phenylacetic Acid via Carbonylation of Benzyl Chloride in the Presence of a Water-Soluble Complex, [PdCl2{PPh2(<i>m</i>-C6H4SO3Na)}2], and Surfactants under Two-Phase Conditions

Abstract

Abstract 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, [PdCl2{PPh2(m-C6H4SO3Na)}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, [PdCl2(PPh3)2] and [Pd(PPh3)4], under the two phase conditions.