Benzoic acid | EPFL Graph Search

Benzoic acid bɛnˈzoʊ.ɪk is a white (or colorless) solid organic compound with the formula , whose structure consists of a benzene ring () with a carboxyl () substituent. The benzoyl group is often abbreviated "Bz" (not to be confused with "Bn" which is used for benzyl), thus benzoic acid is also denoted as BzOH, since the benzoyl group has the formula –. It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. The name is derived from gum benzoin, which was for a long time its only source. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in many plants and serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many secondary metabolites. Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. The salts and esters of benzoic acid are known as benzoates ˈbɛnzoʊ.eɪt. Benzoic acid was discovered in the sixteenth century. The dry distillation of gum benzoin was first described by Nostradamus (1556), and then by Alexius Pedemontanus (1560) and Blaise de Vigenère (1596). Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Wöhler determined the composition of benzoic acid. These latter also investigated how hippuric acid is related to benzoic acid. In 1875 Salkowski discovered the antifungal properties of benzoic acid, which was used for a long time in the preservation of benzoate-containing cloudberry fruits. Benzoic acid is produced commercially by partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen. The process is catalyzed by cobalt or manganese naphthenates. The process uses abundant materials, and proceeds in high yield. The first industrial process involved the reaction of benzotrichloride (trichloromethyl benzene) with calcium hydroxide in water, using iron or iron salts as catalyst. The resulting calcium benzoate is converted to benzoic acid with hydrochloric acid. The product contains significant amounts of chlorinated benzoic acid derivatives. For this reason, benzoic acid for human consumption was obtained by dry distillation of gum benzoin. Food-grade benzoic acid is now produced synthetically.

Role of Carbonyl Compounds for N-Nitrosamine Formation during Nitrosation: Kinetics and Mechanisms

Urs von Gunten, Florian Frédéric Vincent Breider, Yishuai Pan

N-Nitrosamines are potential human carcinogens frequently detected in natural and engineered aquatic systems. This study sheds light on the role of carbonyl compounds in the formation of N-nitrosamines by nitrosation of five secondary amines via different ...

2024

From defect to effect: controlling electronic transport in chevron graphene nanoribbons

Oleg Yazyev, Kristians Cernevics

While bottom-up synthesis allows for precise control over the properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), the use of certain precursor molecules can result in edge defects, such as missing benzene rings that resemble a 'bite'. We investigate the adverse eff ...

IOP Publishing Ltd2023

Optical properties and photochemical production of hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen after ozonation of dissolved organic matter

Urs von Gunten, Frank Jonathan Leresche

This study focuses on the effects of ozonation on the optical and photochemical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Upon ozonation, a decrease in light absorption properties of DOM was observed concomitantly with a large increase in singlet oxyge ...

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY2021