Submitted by Charles R. Conard and Morris A. Dolliver.
Checked by H. Lohse and C. R. Noller.
1. Procedure
A cooled solution of
100 g. of sodium hydroxide in 1 l. of water and
800 cc. of alcohol (Note
1) is placed in a
2-l. wide-mouthed glass jar which is surrounded with water and fitted with a
mechanical stirrer. The solution is kept at about 20–25° and stirred vigorously (Note
2) while one-half of a mixture of
106 g. (1 mole) of benzaldehyde and
29 g. (0.5 mole) of acetone is added (Note
3). In about two or three minutes a yellow cloud forms which soon becomes a flocculent precipitate. After fifteen minutes the rest of the mixed reagents is added, and the container is rinsed with a little alcohol which is added to the mixture. Vigorous stirring is continued for one-half hour longer, and the mush is then filtered with suction on a
large Büchner funnel. The product is thoroughly washed with distilled water (Note
4) and then dried at room temperature to constant weight. The yield is
105–110 g. (
90–94 per cent of the theoretical amount) (Note
5) of a product which melts at
104–107°.
The crude
dibenzalacetone may be recrystallized from hot
ethyl acetate, using 100 cc. of solvent for each 40 g. of material. The recovery in this purification is about
80 per cent; the purified product melts at
110–111°.
2. Notes
1. Sufficient alcohol is used to dissolve the
benzaldehyde rapidly and to retain the
benzalacetone in solution until it has had time to react with the second molecule of aldehyde. Lower concentrations of base slow up the formation of the
dibenzalacetone and thus favor side reactions which yield a sticky product. Higher concentrations of base give added difficulty in washing. These concentrations were suggested by, and are approximately the same as, those used in the preparation of
benzalacetophenone described in
Org. Syn. Coll. Vol. I, 1941, 78.
2. Only temperatures between 20 and 25° were tried; it was assumed that a change of temperature would have the same effect that it has in the preparation of
benzalacetophenone mentioned above.
Stirring is essential, as it makes considerable difference in the uniformity of the product.
3. The
benzaldehyde was u.s.p. quality which had been washed with
sodium carbonate solution and distilled. Commercial c.p.
acetone was used. The theoretical quantities are used, since an excess of
benzaldehyde results in a sticky product while an excess of
acetone favors the production of
benzalacetone. The mixture is prepared before addition in order to ensure additions of equivalent quantities.
4. Since the product is practically insoluble in water, large amounts can be used in the washing. Sodium compounds are probably the chief impurities. The dried product contains some
sodium carbonate which results from the failure to remove the
sodium hydroxide completely. There remain also the impurities insoluble in water. However, the product is pure enough for use in most reactions.
5. If the mush is allowed to stand several hours, chilled, and filtered cold, a slightly larger yield is obtained, but this is not worth while. The filtrate may be used as a medium for a second run in which about
93 per cent of the theoretical yield is obtained. The melting point of the second product is slightly lower.
3. Discussion
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