CH5008 Assessment Details and Practical Procedures

 

Introduction & assessment.

 

The three practicals in this module illustrate some of the more important reaction types and mechanisms covered in the lecture course. The practical portfolio comprises 20% of the overall assessment of the module.

 

Full details of the work required in the portfolio will be posted later in the semester. It will require submission your original notes taken while carrying out the experiments in the laboratory. Ensure that a demonstrator signs your laboratory notes before leaving the lab each week and do not loose them – failure to submit them along with the completed coursework will entail a substantial marking penalty. These notes do not need to be neat or contain mechanisms, but must be contemporary – made as you are doing the experiment, not after you have completed it. Record all observations, weights, etc, as you will need these to complete your portfolio.

 

EXPERIMENT 1:  HYDROLYSIS OF PHENYL BENZOATE

 

Introduction

 

The experiment involves the use of base catalysis in the hydrolysis of phenyl benzoate and the isolation and purification of the resulting acid and alcohol. The reaction involves nucleophilic addition to a carbonyl group, followed by elimination (covered in lectures during Semester 1). The new technique encountered in this experiment is solvent extraction – some students may have done this experiment in the first year, but should still carry out this practical. Solvent extraction techniques are demonstrated on a video which you should view before this experiment.

 

Reading:

1. Practical Organic Chemistry, F. G. Mann and B. C. Saunders, 4th Ed., Longmans, 1960, details of ester hydrolysis, p.354.
2. Vogel’s Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, revised by B. S. Furniss et al, 4th Ed., Longman, 1978; details of solvent extraction, p.127; details of ester hydrolysis, p.1120.
3. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, R. C. Weast, Ed., 64th Ed., CRC Press, 1983/84.

 

Background:

 

Ester hydrolysis may be catalysed by either acid or base.  Both reactions are reversible.  However, in the case of base catalysis, any carboxylic acid produced reacts further with the hydroxide to give the acid anion, RCOO^–.  Thus as the acid is formed by the first reaction it is removed by the second, so that eventually all the ester is converted into its hydrolysis products.  This makes the base-catalysed reaction more efficient than the acid catalysed reaction.

 

Procedure

 

Place 2.0 g of potassium hydroxide pellets, 7 cm³ of diethylene glycol and 2 cm³ of water in a 100cm³ round-bottomed flask, add a few antibumping granules, and assemble the apparatus for reflux.  Using an electric heating mantle (“isomantle”), heat to reflux and maintain reflux until all the potassium hydroxide has dissolved.  Allow the solution to cool to room temperature.  Remove the reflux condenser and add 3.0 g of phenyl benzoate.  Swirl the contents of the flask, reassemble the apparatus and reflux for 15 minutes.  Cool again, and transfer the flask and contents to an ice/water bath for additional chilling.  Add, dropwise, with swirling, sulphuric acid (3 mol dm^-3, available as a bench reagent) until a faint but permanent precipitate (of benzoic acid) is observed.  Continue adding the acid until the solution of is acid to Universal indicator paper.  Break up any large solid deposits that may occur with a glass rod.

 

 

Add aq. sodium carbonate solution (available as a bench reagent) with vigorous swirling until the precipitate redissolves and the solution is definitely alkaline to indicator paper.  (CAUTION:Add carbonate slowly to avoid excessive frothing and risk of spillage). Pour the resultant solution into a separating funnel and extract twice with diethyl ether to remove the phenol. Dry the combined ether layers and evaporate the solvent in a pre-weighed beaker on a steam bath. Calculate the yield of phenol.

 

Collect the aqueous extracts in a conical flask and, dropwise, add dilute hydrochloric acid (4 mol dm^-3, available as a bench reagent) until the benzoic acid precipitates and the solution is just acid to Universal indicator paper.  Filter off the benzoic acid, using the Büchner method.  Wash the product with ice-cold water and then recrystallise it if time permits. Calculate the yield of benzoic acid.

 

 EXPERIMENT 2: PREPARATION OF CYCLOHEXANOL FROM CYCLOHEXENE

 

Introduction

 

This experiment illustrates electrophilc addition to a double bond, covered in lectures during Semester 1. The alkene involved is cyclic – lectures in semester 2 will discuss the effect that ring-conformation has on this and related reacrions. The first step of this reaction is usually referred to as a ‘hydroboration’.  It involves an ‘anti-Markovnikov’ addition to a C=C double bond.

 

Procedure

 

Mount a 100 cm³ round-bottom flask, equipped with a magnetic stirrer, above a stirrer-hotplate (DO NOT SWITCH ON THE HOTPLATE!). Fit the flask with an adaptor carrying a dropping funnel and a condenser.  Place a solution of 6 cm³ of cyclohexene in 6 cm³ of diglyme in the flask and add a solution of 1.4 g of sodium borohydride in

10 cm³ of diglyme.  Cool the flask in an ice bath, begin stirring and slowly add from the dropping funnel a solution of 2 cm³ of boron trifluoride etherate (care – avoid skin contact) over a period of about 12-15 minutes. Stir the reaction for an additional 15 min. and carefully add 10 cm³ of water to destroy any excess NaBH₄. When no further hydrogen is evolved make the solution alkaline by the addition of 6 cm³ of dilute NaOH solution, followed by 6 cm³ of 30 % hydrogen peroxide solution (added in 0.5 cm³ portions using a teat pipette).

 

Pour the reaction mixture into a separating funnel containing 20 cm³ of ice-water and extract the cyclohexanol with two ether extractions. Wash the combined ether extracts with saturated sodium chloride solution, separate the ether layer and dry this over anhydrous magnesium sulphate.  Decant off the dried ether layer into a beaker, and evaporate on a steam bath to leave the crude cyclohexanol.  (Cyclohexanol is a liquid with  a high boiling point, it will not evaporate however long you leave the flask on the steambath!) Purify the cyclohexanol by distillation.

 

Record the yield, boiling point and IR spectrum of the product.

 

NB If the amount of product you produce is quite small, pool your material with other colleagues and do a bulk distillation.

 

 

 

EXPERIMENT 3: DIELS-ALDER REACTION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE WITH CYCLOPENTADIENE

 

Introduction

 

This experiment illustrates the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction, covered (briefly) in lectures during Semester 1 and again (in detail) during Semester 2. It is one of a number of reactions whose outcome is governed by the role of orbital symmetry. In the first step of this procedure cyclopenta-1,3-diene is prepared by thermal ‘cracking’ of the dimer (dicyclopentadiene). In the second step cyclopentadiene is reacted with maleic anhydride (a strong dienophile) to form a Diels-Alder adduct.

 

Procedure

 

Place dicyclopentadiene (30 cm³) and a few anti-bumping granules in a 100 cm³ round-bottom flask and set up the apparatus for distillation, with the receiving flask in an ice-bath. Raise the temperature of the heating mantle slowly until cyclopentadiene (monomer) collects slowly (dropwise) in the receiving flask. The distillation temperature should not exceed 65 ^oC. Collect 3-5 cm³ of the distillate and keep it in the ice-bath until use. Allow the apparatus to cool and, when safe to handle, return the unused dicyclopentadiene to the bottle provided. Rinse the apparatus with acetone and return it to the box – it will be needed later on in the practical by another group.

 

Dissolve maleic anhydride (1.0 g) in toluene (15 cm³). Cool the solution in an ice bath and, when cold, add 1.0 g of cyclopentadiene (monomer). Swirl the flask and leave to stand in the ice-bath; record the time taken for crystals to appear. Filter the cyclopentadiene-maleic anhydride using a Buchner filtration apparatus, record the yield and obtain an IR spectrum. An NMR spectrum of the product will be posted on the weblearn site: interpret this for inclusion in your portfolio for assessment in Semester 2.

 

Return the unused cyclopentadiene (monomer) to the bottle used to collect dicyclopentadiene (dry the outside of the round bottom flask before pouring it back in – it is important that the recovered dicyclopentadiene/cyclopentadiene is not contaminated with water).

 

 

Last Completed Projects

Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]