Sodium Chloride → Dibenzyl ether

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Benzyl chloride (12.6 g; 0.1 mole), a 50 percent aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (35 g; 0.44 mole), tetra-n-butylammonium bisulfate (1.7 g. 0.005 mole), and sodium acetate (0.4 g; 0.005 mole) were added to a reaction vessel fitted with a thermometer and magnetic stirrer. The contents were then stirred and heated to 60° C. The reaction was slightly exothermic raising the temperature of the reaction mass to 63° C. The reaction mass was sampled at various intervals and the samples were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The results are tabulated in Table I. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mass consisted of a lemon yellow organic layer, a heavy, caustic emulsion and solid sodium chloride on the flask bottom.

Provenance & Evidence