Three Reagents In One: Ammonium Permanganate In The Oxidation Of Benzyl Alcohol

Abstract

The oxidation or consecutive ammoxidation reaction of benzyl alcohol with solid ammonium permanganate was studied. The first oxidation step leads to the formation of benzaldehyde, ammonia, and MnO2. The MnO2 is present in the system in a colloidal form which facilitates the reaction between aldehyde and ammonia, and this latter reaction then yields benzonitrile. All these products are formed in a heterogeneous system under relatively mild conditions. The yield of benzaldehyde has an optimum at room temperature and increases with increasing reaction time. At higher temperature (e.g. 80 °C) benzonitrile is formed together with minor amounts of benzyl benzoate