Question

convert chlorobenzene to benzoic acid

Answer 1

There are 2 common ways by which chlorobenzene can be converted to Benzoic acid.

1. Using a Grignard reagent - 

C₂H₅Cl → C₆H₄COOH, in the presence of Mg-Ether (Grignard reagent), CO₂ and 0.1 M aq. HCl.

2. Using nickel iodide-silica gel catalyst (Ni: SiO₂) - 

Chlorobenzene can be converted to benzoic acid when chlorobenzene is carboxylated with carbon monoxide and water at high pressure with nickel iodide-silica gel catalyst (Ni: SiO₂ = 50: 50).

C₆H₅Cl (g)+ CO (g) + H₂O (g) → C₆H₅COOH (g) + HCl (g)