Carboxylic acids prepn - by nitric acid oxidn of 1-alkanols under controlled conditions using a vanadium promoter

摘要

Reaction is effected at 20-100 degrees C using 8-22M concns. of HNO3 and ammonium vanadate promotor. Light or nitrite ions are used advantageously to initiate or catalyse the reaction. A reaction lump of 80 degrees C gives a mixture of carboxylic acids contg. mainly acids having 1C atom less than the initial 1-alkanol. At temps of >=60 degrees C and concns. of HNO3 of >=14M the resulting mixture comprises carboxylic acids contg. less atoms than the initial alcohol. At 60 degrees C the mixture of carboxylic acids obtained contains mainly a carboxylic acid with the same no. of C atoms as the initial alcohol.