Sulfuric Acid → 2-Ethylhexyl 6-methylheptanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

2 g concentrated sulfuric acid were added to a solution of 130 g (1 mol) 2-ethylhexanol and 144 g (1 mol) "isooctanoic acid" (isomeric mixture from Ruhrchemie A. G., Oberhausen) in 300 ml toluene and heated to boiling with water separation until the equimolar amount of water separates (about 2 hours). After cooling it was washed with water and then with 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. The remaining end-product gave after distillation over a 15 cm Vigreux column 230 g (90%) isooctanoic acid-2-ethyl-hexylester as a colorless oil of medium viscosity.

Provenance & Evidence