Formaldehyde → Phosphoric Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

189 grams of paraformaldehyde (6 moles) were dissolved in the heat in 298 grams of methanol with 1 gram of sodium hydroxide. Then there were added 2 moles of a hot, concentrated guanidine dihydrogen phosphate solution, which was previously produced from 180 grams of guanidine carbonate (1 mole) and 231 grams of 85% phosphoric acid (2 moles). After about one hour of boiling at reflux there was formed a clear solution to which there were added a further 2 moles of the previously described concentrated guanidine dihydrogen phosphate solution as well as 137 grams of methanol. The mixture was boiled at reflux for a further three hours, cooled and drawn off. It contained 60% solids, 31.5% methanol and 8.5% water.

Provenance & Evidence