Benzoic acid, the simplest benzene-based carboxylic acid, has been known since the 16th century. One of its discoverers was the legendary clairvoyant Nostradamus. Its most common natural source is gum ...

Benzaldehyde readily undergoes autoxidation to form benzoic acid on exposure to air at room temperature. Yet it can be formed in high yield from, for example, benzyl alcohol by oxidation using a ...