One-Pot, Clean Synthesis of Vanillic Acid from Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid dissolved in water is selectively oxidized to vanillic acid in high yield (60%) under remarkably mild and green conditions, namely at room temperature with air as primary oxidant, over a catalytic amount of nanostructured Bi2WO6. The process is general and opens the route to the selective oxidation of natural substances into derivatives of significant applicative relevance.