Octanoyl chloride → Sodium Sulfide

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 12.9 weight percent aqueous solution of sodium sulfide was prepared by dissolving sodium sulfide (144 grams, 1.84 moles) in the form of hydrated flakes (240 grams, 60%) into 880 grams of water in a 5-liter round-bottomed flask. A dropping funnel was charged with octanoyl chloride (300 grams, 1.84 moles). The temperature of the sodium sulfide solution in the 5-liter flask measured 21° C. The addition of the octanoyl chloride was begun with stirring of the contents of the 5-liter flask with a mechanical stirrer, and immediately, 0.15 grams of a concentrated aqueous solution of methyltrioctylammonium chloride was added to the 5-liter flask. The addition of the octanoyl chloride was completed within 5-10 minutes with external cooling of the 5-liter flask. The contents of the 5-liter flask reached a maximum temperature of 68° C. The contents of the 5-liter flask were then cooled to ambient temperature and stirring was stopped, yielding a clear, slightly viscous, one-phase aqueous solution of sodium thiooctanoate (also known as sodium thioloctanoate and as sodium thiocarprylate) and sodium chloride.

Provenance & Evidence