Studies in aerial oxidation: Salts of methylbenzoic acids

Abstract

In the course of an investigation designed to provide a solid-state system for the study of aerial oxidation of coals it was shown that the main products (conversions of approximately 60%) of oxidation of solid salts of methylbenzoic acids with air between 240° and 300° are the corresponding benzenedicarboxylic acids. The corresponding aldehydes are probably intermediates which give rise to benzoic acid as a product of a competitive reaction. Ion-transfer reactions between solids take place under the conditions of the experiments.