1-Butanol → Butyl glycidyl ether

Participants

Reaction Steps

370 g (5 mol) of n-butanol and 3 ml of BF3.(C2H5)2O catalyst were heated to 45° C. and stirred for 4 h. An amount of 466 g (5 mol) of epichlorohydrin was added dropwise at 40°-50° C. The mixture was cooled down to room temperature and 6.25 mol of a 50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (250 g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 250 ml of water) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred for 1 h. Water was added until complete dissolution of the inorganic salt. The organic phase was separated and 0.5 l of ethyl acetate was added thereto. The organic phase was rinsed twice with water, dried over sodium sulphate, filtered, and concentrated by evaporation. Fractionation was carried out then at normal pressure. Yield: 290 g of 1-butoxy-2,3-epoxypropane boiling at 170°-174° C.

Provenance & Evidence