Question

How can we convert acetophenone to benzoic acid?

Answer 1

Conversion of Acetophenone to Benzoic acid:-

Step 1: Formation of Potassium benzoate

Acetophenone at first is oxidised with Potassium permanganate ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ and Potassium hydroxide$\left(\mathrm{KOH}\right)$, and the product formed is Potassium benzoate:

Step 2: Formation of Benzoic acid

The Potassium benzoate formed is now hydrolyzed to form our required product Benzoic acid:

This formation of Benzoic acid from Acetophenone is a step-2 reaction.

Therefore, Acetophenone is treated with Iodine and Sodium hydroxide then followed by hydrolysis forms of Benzoic acid.