Carbonylation of (Dichloromethyl)benzene Catalyzed by Cobalt Carbonyl and Iron Carbonyl under Phase Transfer Catalysis

Treatment of (dichloromethyl)benzenes with CO (1 atm) in the presence of catalytic amount of and BTEAC under two phase systems with NaOH(_{aq}) and containing small amount of alcohol for 20 hours at 80C gives phenylacetic acids in moderate yields.