Preparation and Application of Benzyl Alcohol

Application:

Benzyl alcohol is widely used in the production of industrial chemicals[1], which can be divided into the following aspects:

1. Used as coating solvent, photographic developer, polyvinyl chloride stabilizer, medicine, synthetic resin solvent, solvent for vitamin B injection, preservative for ointment or liquid medicine.

2. Can be used as a drying agent for nylon yarn, fiber and plastic film, solvent for dye, cellulose ester, casein, and intermediate for preparing benzyl ester or ether.

3. Widely used in pen making (ballpoint pen oil), paint solvent, etc.

4. Benzyl alcohol is also a very useful fixative and is an indispensable fragrance in the preparation of jasmine, moonflower, ylang ylang and other flavors. It is used in the preparation of soap and daily cosmetic flavors.

Preparation:

Benzyl alcohol is produced industrially by various methods. The earliest method was the Cannizzaro reaction, which was to react benzaldehyde with potassium hydroxide to produce it: 2C6H5CHO + KOH → C6H5CH2OH + C6H5COOK. However, this method is not economical, and nearly half of the raw materials produce benzoic acid. The commonly used method is the Buran method, which is to pass dry hydrogen chloride gas into a mixture of benzene, trioxymethylene and zinc chloride. Toluene vapor and chlorine gas can also be reacted under light to first produce benzyl chloride, and then hydrolyze to produce benzyl alcohol. Although this method is more economical than the Cannizzaro reaction, chlorobenzene is produced as a by-product in the reaction, making the product unusable for fragrances and paints. If the by-product is to be removed, the product price will increase.