1. Chemical properties: Methyl benzoate is relatively stable, but it is hydrolyzed to generate benzoic acid and methanol when heated in the presence of caustic alkali. There is no change when heated in a sealed tube at 380-400°C for 8 hours. When pyrolyzed on the hot metal mesh, benzene, biphenyl, methyl phenyl benzoate, etc. are formed. Hydrogenation at 10MPa and 350°C generates toluene. Methyl benzoate undergoes a transesterification reaction with primary alcohols in the presence of alkali metal ethanolate. For example, 94% of the reaction with ethanol at room temperature becomes ethyl benzoate; 84% of the reaction with propanol becomes propyl benzoate. There is no transesterification reaction with isopropanol. Benzyl alcohol ester and ethylene glycol use chloroform as solvent, and when a small amount of potassium carbonate is added to reflux, ethylene glycol benzoate and a small amount of ethylene glycol benzhydrol ester are obtained. Methyl benzoate and glycerin use pyridine as a solvent. When heated in the presence of sodium methoxide, transesterification can also be carried out to obtain glycerin benzoate.
2. Methyl benzyl alcohol is nitrated with nitric acid (relative density 1.517) at room temperature to obtain methyl 3-nitrobenzoate and methyl 4-nitrobenzoate in a ratio of 2:1. Using thorium oxide as a catalyst, it reacts with ammonia at 450-480°C to produce benzonitrile. Heat with phosphorus pentachloride to 160-180°C to obtain benzoyl chloride.
3. Methyl benzoate forms a crystalline molecular compound with aluminum trichloride and tin chloride, and forms a flaky crystalline compound with phosphoric acid.
4. Stability and stability
5. Incompatible materials, strong oxidants, strong alkalis
6. Polymerization hazards, no polymerization
