Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol with monochromate in non-polar solvents

1216-1218Kinetics of the oxidation of benzyl alcohol in non-polar media has been carried out using potassium dichromate under phase transfer catalysis (PTC) using tetrabutylphosphonium bromide (TBPB) and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as phase transfer catalysts (PT catalysts). The reaction is first order each in [benzyl alcohol] and [chromate ions]. The oxidation is selective in the product formation. Benzaldehyde is formed in quantitative yield and no tmces of benzoic acid has been detected. The reaction mixture fails to induce the polymerization of added acrylonitrile which rules out involvement of any medical intermediate. The energy of activation is significantly low in the range 29-31 kJmol-1