Question

Write a chemical equation to illustrate the following named reaction:

Perkin's reaction

Answer 1

The Perkin reaction is an organic reaction developed by English chemist William Henry Perkin that is used to make cinnamic acids. It gives an α, β-unsaturated aromatic acid by the aldol condensation of an aromatic aldehyde and an acid anhydride, in the presence of an alkali salt of the acid.

Answer 2

\[\ce{C6H5CHO + (CH3CO)2O->[CH3COONa][Heat]C6H5CH = CHCOOH + CH3COOH}\]