Ethanol → 1-Methylimidazole

Participants

Reaction Steps

SiCl4 (50.0 g, 0.294 mol) is slowly added with icebath cooling and under an N2 atmosphere at a temperature of 10-15° C. to a solution of ethanol (54.3 g, 1.17 mol) and 1-methylimidazole (MIA, 98.9 g, 1.21 mol) in heptane (400 ml). The reaction mixture is stirred overnight and the phases are separated. 142.9 g of MIA hydrochloride are obtained as a colorless solid (theory: 141.9 g of MIA+MIA.HCl). The organic phase is cautiously concentrated, in order to keep losses of volatile product low. 48.1 g of tetraethoxysilane (theory: 61.3 g) are obtained as a slightly cloudy, colorless oil having a purity of 91.1% (GC).

Provenance & Evidence