Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Question on the pyrolysis of benzoin with calcium chloride

unchem - 5-1-2019 at 05:11

Dear chemists, please tell me what I will get during perolysis of benzoic acid with calcium chloride. Found such a technique. Benzoic acid is poured with plenty of calcium chloride.
The mixture of benzoic acid and calcium chloride is stirred, then placed in the retort and put on a early bonfire.
After all the liquid has distilled we distilled it again.
We drive away everything that boils up to 200 degrees. What should be the ratio of benzoic and calcium chloride. Thanks for earlier

Tellurium - 5-1-2019 at 11:45

Mhh that seems strange, do you have a reference for that reaction?
Because when two benzoic acid molecules would react to form Benzoin two Oxygens and one Hydrogens would theoretically escape and that would be very unlikely, because they won't escape as water, because the ratio doesn't fit.
Normally when heating Benzoic acid very strongly you decarboxylate it to form Benzene and Carbon Dioxide.
Calcium can play a role in the reaction, as Calcium benzoate when strongly heated reacts to form Benzophenone. But I can't imagine, that it could produce Benzoin with CaClâ‚‚:o