Benzoic acid, the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid containing carboxyl group
bonded directly to benzene ring, is a white, crystalline organic compound;
melting at 122 C (starting sublime at 100 C); boiling at 249 C; slightly
soluble in water, soluble in ethanol, very slightly soluble in benzene and
acetone. Its aqua solution is weakly acidic. It occurs naturally in many plants
and resins. Benzoic acid is also detected in animals. The most of commercial
benzoic acid is produced by the reaction of toluene with oxygen at
temperatures around 200 C in the liquid phase and in the presence of cobalt and
manganese salts as catalysts. It can be prepared also by the oxidation of
benzene with concentrated sulphuric acid or carbon dioxide in the presence of
catalysts. Other methods are such as by the oxidation of benzyl alcohol,
benzaldehyde, cinnamic acid; by hydrolysis of benzonitrile, benzoyl chloride.
More than 90% of commercial benzoic acid is converted directly to phenol and
caprolactam. Its use in the production of glycol benzoates for the application
of plasticizer in adhesive formulations is increasing. It is also used in the
manufacture of alkyd resins and drilling mud additive for crude oil recovery
applications. It is used as a rubber polymerization activators and retardants.
Benzoic acid is converted to its salts and esters for the use of preservative
application in foods, drugs and personal products. Sodium benzoate, sodium salt
of benzoic acid, is used preferably as one of the principal anti-microbial
preservatives used in foods and beverages (but it's concentration is limited
usually not exceeding 0.1% because it is poisonous), as it is about 200 times
more soluble than benzoic acid. Sodium Benzoate is also used in medications,
anti-fermentation additives and tabletting lubricant for pharmaceuticals. The
industrial applications are as a corrosion inhibitor, as an additive to
automotive engine antifreeze coolants and in other waterborne systems, as a
nucleating agents for polyolefin, as a dye intermediate, as a stabilizer in
photographic processing and as a catalyst. Wide range of benzoic esters are used
as solvents, dying carrier, disinfectant additive, penetrating agent and
pesticides and manufacturing other compounds.
The prefix nitro- indicates the presence of NO2- radical, while nitrate refers
to any salt or ester of nitric acid or the NO3- anion. Nitroso- is the prefix
indicating presence of the group -NO and azo- is for -N=N- group. Some range of
organic compounds containing nitrogen include nitro compounds (RNO2 ), nitroso
compounds (RNO), amines (R3N ), amino acids, and natural alkaloids or
nucleotides. The nitrogen ion in nitro compounds is trigonally planar with 120°
angles. There are two resonance bonds so that the two oxygens are equivalent.
Nitro compounds are strongly basic due to electron withdrawing both inductively
and mesomerically. Historically, they
are abundant in dyes and explosives. Nitro compounds, organic hydrocarbons having one or more NO2
groups bonded via nitrogen to the carbon framework, are versatile intermediate
in organic synthesis.
- Michael
addition
- Reduction
- Henry
Reaction (Nitro-aldol reaction)
- Nef
reaction
- O-Alkylation
- Cycloaddition
- Substitution, Elimination, Conversion
reaction
- Alkylation,
Acylation, and Halogenation
m-Nitrobenzoic acid
is used as an intermediate
functional
dyes, pharmaceuticals, medicines
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