Lauric Acid → Dodecanoyl chloride

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

In a dry 2-necked, round bottomed flask, equipped with a magnetic stirrer and fixed with a separatory funnel, containing 13.13 ml (180 mmol) of thionyl chloride, and a water condenser, is placed 20.03 g (100 mmol) of dodecanoic acid. Addition of the thionyl chloride is completed with heating to about 45° C. over the course of about 30 minutes. When addition of the thionyl chloride is complete the mixture is heated and stirred for an additional 45 minutes. The water condenser is then replaced with a distillation side arm condenser and the crude mixture is distilled. The crude distillate in the receiving flask is then fractionally distilled to obtain the acyl chloride, dodecanoyl chloride. This acyl chloride, 7.65 g (35 mmol), is put into a dry separatory funnel and combined with 50 ml of dry dichloromethane for use in the next step of the reaction.

Provenance & Evidence