In the experiment, potassium carbonate was used instead of potassium acetate as a catalyst to synthesize cinnamic acid with good results.1 Experimental Part 1.1 Instruments and DrugsInstruments:Long-necked round-bottomed flasks, water vapor distillation device, decompression filtration device, straight condenser tubes, air condenser tubes. Drugs: benzaldehyde (new steam), acetic anhydride, potassium carbonate (anhydrous), sodium carbonate, concentrated hydrochloric acid, activated carbon.1.2 Experimental operation in 250mL long neck round bottom flask, add benzaldehyde 5.1mL, acetic anhydride 14.7mL, potassium carbonate 6.8g, the flask was placed in an electric heating jacket heating reflux about 1h. After the reaction was completed, about 100 mL of water was added to the reaction flask, and about 10 g of sodium carbonate was added to make the solution slightly alkaline, and water vapor distillation was carried out until the distillate was free of oil beads. The reaction solution was decolorized by boiling with a little activated carbon and filtered. The filtrate was acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid to make the Congo red paper turn blue. After all the crystals were precipitated, filtered under reduced pressure and dried.2 Results and DiscussionPerkin's reaction was discovered by W. Perkin, a British organic chemist, in 1867. The most basic reaction for benzaldehyde and acetic anhydride, under the catalytic effect of potassium acetate (sodium), the condensation to generate β-phenylacrylic acid (cinnamic acid).