Benzoic anhydride

Benzoic anhydride is the organic compound with the formula (C₆H₅CO)₂O. It is the acid anhydride of benzoic acid and the simplest symmetrical aromatic acid anhydride. It is a white solid.

Preparation and reactions

It is usually prepared by the dehydration reaction of benzoic acid, e.g. using acetic anhydride:^[3]

2 C₆H₅CO₂H + (CH₃CO)₂O → (C₆H₅CO)₂O + 2 CH₃CO₂H

Alternatively, sodium benzoate can be treated with benzoyl chloride. It can be produced by dehydrating benzoic acid by heating. ^{[citation needed]}

Benzoic anhydride provides a convenient way to prepare benzoic esters:

(C₆H₅CO)₂O + ROH → C₆H₅CO₂H + C₆H₅CO₂R

References

^ "Sciencelab msds". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
^ "aldrich product page".
^ H. T. Clarke; E. J. Rahrs (1923). "Benzoic Anhydride". Org. Synth. 3: 21. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.003.0021.