Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Mesoxalic acid to formaldehyde

Adas - 23-9-2012 at 00:32

Hello guys,

I was wondering if one could make formaldehyde from mesoxalic acid by decarboxylation.

HOOC-CO-COOH + 4 NaOH ----> 2 Na2CO3 + 2 H2O + CH2O

Would this route be useful? I have read that you can make mesoxalic acid by oxidation of glycerol.

Nicodem - 23-9-2012 at 09:45

What is the reference for that reaction?