Dinitrobenzoates

If desired, the 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid may be re crystallised from water as almost colourless rhombs, m.p. 204 . 

Assemble in a fume-cupboard the apparatus shown in Fig. 67(A). Place 15 g. of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 17 g. of phosphorus pentachloride in the flask C, and heat the mixture in an oil-bath for hours. Then reverse the condenser as shown in Fig. 67(B), but replace the calcium chloride tube by a tube leading to a water-pump, the neck of the reaction-flask C being closed with a rubber stopper. Now distil off the phosphorus oxychloride under reduced pressure by heating the flask C in an oil-bath initially at 25-30, increasing this temperature ultimately to 110°. Then cool the flask, when the crude 3,5-dinitro-benzoyl chloride will solidify to a brown crystalline mass. Yield, 16 g., i.e,y almost theoretical. Recrystallise from caibon tetrachloride. The chloride is obtained as colourless crystals, m.p. 66-68°, Yield, 13 g Further recrystallisation of small quantities can be performed using petrol (b.p. 40-60°). The chloride is stable almost indefinitely if kept in a calcium chloride desiccator. 

Methyl 3,5-Dinitrobenzoate. (N02)2C H3C00CH3. (Semi-micro Scale.)... 

Place I g. of powdered 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride in a small conical flask, add 2 5 ml. of dry methanol, and warm on a water-bath until the solid has dissolved. Cool and filter off the 3,5-dinitrobenzoate which has separated. Recrystallise from ethanol or petroleum (b.p. 60-80°). The ester separates in colourless crystals, m.p. 108°. Yield,... 

Undergo ester interchange with 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid. 

Dinitrobenzoates. The 3,5-dinitrobenzoate of the alcohol portion of the ester may be obtained by ester interchange. Thus an ester, R -COOR, when heated with 3,5 dinitrobenzoic acid and sulphuric acid gives (N03)2CgH3C00R. 

To about ro ml. of the ester add about 0 5 g. of 3,5-dim trobenzoic acid and 0 25 ml. of cone. H3SO4. Heat the mixture gently under reflux for 5 minutes. Add very carefully about 10 ml. of water, make alkaline with NaOH and filter at the pump. Recrystallise the solid 3,5-dinitrobenzoate from benzene and take the m.p. (M.ps., pp. 536-530.)... 

Formation of, -dinitrobenzoates. Aliphatic ethers are broken up by heating with ZnClg, and a 3,5--dinitrobenzoate of the residue can then be prepared. This is suitable only for symmetrical ethers. 

Heat together under very efficient water reflux 1 g. of freshly fused dry powdered ZnClg, 2 ml. of diethyl ether and 0 5 g. of 3,5 -dinitrobenzoyl chloride for 2 hours. Shake the product with 5 ml. of water and ther add 10% NaOH solution until all the ZnCl, and excess of 3,5-dinitro> benzoyl chloride and 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid have gone into solution. Filter at the pump and recrystallise from petroleum (b.p. 40-60°) to obtain ethyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate, m.p. 93°. (M ps. of other 3,5 dinitro-benzoates, p. 536.)... 

Ethers. 3,5-Dinitrobenzoates (p. 396), Picrates (with aryl ethers) (p. 397). 

The conversion of the compounds under investigation into coloured derivatives (e.g., the separation of carbonyl compounds by conversion into their 2 4-dinitrophenylhydrazones, etc. of hydrocarbons through their picrates of alcohols through their 3 5-dinitrobenzoates of glucose, fructose and other simple sugars through their p-phenylazobenzoyl esters). 

Method 1. Mix 1 0 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid (Section IV,168) with 4 ml. of thionyl chloride in a dry 50 ml. conical flask fit a reflux condenser, carrying a plug of cotton wool at the upper end, into the flask and heat on a water bath for 15-30 minutes. Remove the condenser and heat the flask in a boiling water bath FUME CUPBOARD 1) until the excess of thionyl chloride has evaporated. Use the resulting 3 5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride (about 10 g.) immediately. 

Method 2. Mix 1 0 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid with 1 5 g. of phosphorus pentachloride in a small, dry test-tube. Warm the mixture gently over a small smoky fiame to start the reaction when the reaction has subsided (but not before), boil for 1-2 minutes or until the solid matter has dissolved. Pour the mixture while still liquid on a dry watch glass (CAUTION the fumes are irritating to the eyes). When the product has solidified, remove the liquid by-product (phosphorus oxychloride) by transferring the pasty mixture to a pad of several thicknesses of filter paper or to a small piece of porous tile. Spread the material until the liquid has been absorbed and the residual solid is dry. Transfer the 3 5 dinitrobenzoyl chloride to a test-tube, add 0-5-1 ml. of the alcohol, and continue as in Method 1. 

The melting points of these esters are usually much lower than those of the corresponding 3 5 dinitrobenzoates their preparation, therefore, offers no advantages over the latter except for alcohols of high molecular weight and for polyhydroxy compounds. The reagent is, however, cheaper than 3 5 dinitrobenzoyl chloride it hydrolyses in the air so that it should either be stored under light petroleum or be prepared from the acid, when required, by the thionyl chloride or phosphorus pentachloride method. 

The resulting alkyl 3 5-dinitrobenzoate may be employed for the characterisation of the ether. The method is only applicable to symmetrical or simple ethers a mixed aliphatic ether ROR would yield a mixture of inseparable solid esters. 

The experimental procedure to be followed depends upon the products of hydrolysis. If the alcohol and aldehyde are both soluble in water, the reaction product is divided into two parts. One portion is used for the characterisation of the aldehyde by the preparation of a suitable derivative e.g., the 2 4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, semicarbazone or di-medone compound—see Sections 111,70 and 111,74). The other portion is employed for the preparation of a 3 5-dinitrobenzoate, etc. (see Section 111,27) it is advisable first to concentrate the alcohol by dis tillation or to attempt to salt out the alcohol by the addition of solid potassium carbonate. If one of the hydrolysis products is insoluble in the reaction mixture, it is separated and characterised. If both the aldehyde and the alcohol are insoluble, they are removed from the aqueous layer separation is generally most simply effected with sodium bisulphite solution (compare Section Ill,74),but fractional distillation may sometimes be employed. 

Hydrolysis (or saponification) of n-butyl acetate. Boil 4-5 g. of n-butyl acetate (Section 111,95) with 50 ml. of 10 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution under reflux until the odour of the ester can no longer be detected (about 1 hour). Set the condenser for downward distiUation and coUect the first 10 ml. of distillate. Saturate it with potassium carbonate, aUow to stand for 5 minutes, and withdraw all the Uquid into a small pipette or dropper pipette. AUow the lower layer of carbonate solution to run slowly into a test-tube, and place the upper layer into a small test-tube or weighing bottle. Dry the alcohol with about one quarter of its buUr of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Remove the alcohol with a dropper pipette and divide it into two parts use one portion for the determination of the b.p. by the Siwoloboff method (Section 11,12) and convert the other portion into the 3 5-dinitrobenzoate (Section III, 27) and determine the m.p. 

Dissolve 2 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid in 2 ml. of the ester and add 1 - 5 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid. If the b.p. of the ester is below 150°, refiux the mixture gently if the b.p. is above 150° heat the mixture, with frequent shaking at first, in an oil bath at about 150°. If the 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid dissolves within 15 minutes, heat the mixture for 30 minutes, otherwise 60 minutes heating is required. Allow the reaction mixture to cool, dissolve it in 25 ml. of ether, and extract thoroughly with 5 per cent, sodium carbonate solution (ca. 25 ml.). Wash the ethereal solution with water, and remove the ether. Dissolve the residue (which is usually an oil) in 5 ml. of hot alcohol, add hot water cautiously until the 3 5-dinitrobenzoate commences to separate, cool and stir. Recrystallise the derivative from dilute alcohol the yield is... 

If desired, the alcohol may be identified as the 3 5-dinitrobenzoate (Section 111,27) it is then best to repeat the experiment on a larger scale and to replace the dilute hydrochloric acid by dilute sulphuric acid. It must, however, be pointed out that the reaction is not always so simple as indicated in the above equation. Olefine formation and rearrangement of the alcohol sometimes occur thus n-prop3 lamine yields n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and propylene. 

Dinitrobenzoic acid. This acid may be prepared by the nitration of benzoic acid with a mixture of concentrated sulphuric acid and fuming nitric acid under special conditions (see also Section VII,22) ... 

The reaction is illustrated by the conversion of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid into 3 5-dlnltroaniline, and of acetophenone into acetanilide ... 

Dinitroaniline from 3 5-dinItrobenzoic acid. Place a solution of 50 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid (Section IV, 168) in 90 ml. of 10 per cent, oleum and 20 ml. of concentrated sulphuric acid in a 1-litre three necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser, mechanical stirrer, adropping funnel, and thermometer (FUME CUPBOARD ). Add 100 ml. of clJoroform and raise the temperature to 45°. Stir rapidly and add 17 -5g. of sodium azide in small portions whilst maintaining the temperature at 35-45°. The reaction is accompanied hy foaming, which usually commences after about 3 g. of sodium azide has been introduced. After all the sodium azide has been added raise the temperature so that the chloroform refluxes vigorously and maintain this temperature for 3 hours. Then cool the reaction mixture, pour it cautiously on to 500 g. of crushed ice, and dilute with 3 litres of water. After 1 hour, separate the yellow solid by filtration at the pump, wash well with water and dry at 100°. The yield of 3 5-dinitroaniline, m.p. 162-163°, is 39 g. The m.p. is unaffected by recrystallisation from dilute alcohol. 

Place a mixture of 30 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid (Section IV,168 and 33 g. of phosphorus pentachloride in a Claisen flask fit a reflux condenser into the short neck and cork the other neck and side arm (compare Fig. Ill, 31, 1). Heat the mixture in an oil bath at 120-130° for 75 minutes. Allow to cool. Remove the phosphorus oxychloride by distillation under reduced pressure (25°/20 mm.) raise the temperature of the bath to 110°. The residual 3 5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride solidifies on cooling to a brown mass the yield is quantitative. Recrystallise from carbon tetrachloride the yield is 25 g., m.p. 67-68° and this is satisfactory for most purposes. Further recrystallisation from a large volume of light petroleum b.p. 40-60°, gives a perfectly pure product, m.p. 69 -6°. 

Dinitrobenzoyl chloride reacts readily with water and it should be kept in sealed tubes or under light petroleum. When required for qualitative organic analysis it is usually best prepared from 3 5 dinitrobenzoic acid immediately before use (see Section 111,27,2). 

Saponification of esters. Aqueous sodium hydroxide method. To hydrolyse an ester of an alcohol, reflux 5-6 g. with 50 ml. of 20 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution for 1-2 hours or until the ester layer disappears. Distil the alkahne mixture and collect about 6 ml. of distillate. This will contain any volatile alcohol formed in the saponification. If the alcohol does not separate, i.e., is water-soluble, saturate the distillate with sohd potassium carbonate an upper layer of alcohol is then usually formed. (The alcohol may be subsequently identified as the 3 5-dinitrobenzoate see Section 111,27,2.) Cool the residual alkahne mixture, and acidify it with dilute sulphuric acid. If no crystalline acid is precipitated, the acid may frequently be isolated by ether extraction, or it may be distilled from the acidified solution and isolated from (or investigated in) the distfllate. (The acid may be subsequently identified, e.g., as the S benzyl wo-thiuronium salt see Section 111,85,2.)... 

Diethylene glycol method. Place 0-5 g. of potassium hydroxide pellets, 3 ml. of diethylene glycol and 0 5 ml. of water in a 10 or 25 ml. distilling flask heat the mixture gently until the alkali has dissolved and cool. Add 1-2 g. of the ester and mix well. Fit the flask with a thermometer and a small water-cooled condenser in the usual way. Heat the flask over a small flame whilst shaking gently to mix the contents. When only one liquid phase, or one hquid phase and one solid phase, remains in the flask, heat the mixture more strongly so that the alcohol distils. Identify the alcohol in the distillate by the preparation of the 3 5 dinitrobenzoate (Section 111,27,2). 

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