Water → 1-O-Pentylglycerol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 3-neck, 2-liter round bottomed reaction flask (equipped with overhead stirrer, cold water condenser, mercury thermometer and addition funnel) are charged with about 546 g of aqueous NaOH (about 50% concentration) and about 38.5 g of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (PTC, phase transfer catalyst). The content of the flask is stirred to achieve dissolution and then about 200 g of 1-pentanol is added along with about 400 ml hexanes (a mixture of isomers, with about 85% n-hexane). Into the addition funnel is charged about 418 g of epichlorohydrin which is slowly added (dropwise) to the stirring reaction mix. The temperature gradually rises to about 68° C. due to the reaction exotherm. The reaction is allowed to continue for about 1 hr after complete addition of the epichlorohydrin (no additional heat).

Provenance & Evidence