How to get formic acid from acetic acid ?

1 Answer
Jan 21, 2018

How about this?

Explanation:

Step 1. Reduction with #"LiAlH"_4#

#"CH"_3"COOH" stackrelcolor(blue)("1. LiAlH"_4"; 2. H"^"+"color(white)(mm))(→) "CH"_3"CH"_2"OH"#

Step 2. Dehydration

#"CH"_3"CH"_2"OH" stackrelcolor(blue)("H"_2"SO"_4, Δcolor(white)(mm))(→) "H"_2"C=CH"_2#

Step 3. Ozonolysis

#"H"_2"C=CH"_2 stackrelcolor(blue)("1. O"_3"; 2. Zn/H"_2"O"color(white)(mm))(→) "2H"_2"C=O"#

Step 4. Oxidation

#"HC(=O)H" stackrelcolor(blue)("H"_2"O"_2, "Fe"^"2+"color(white)(mm))(→) "HC(=O)OH"#