Hydrogen chloride, reaction with zinc

Preparation (b). The reaction sequence is shown in the formulation. Treatment of paraldehyde and absolute ethanol with hydrogen chloride gas at —5° produces a-chloroethyl ethyl ether (1), which on bromination affords a,j8-dibromoethyl ethyl ether (2). Coupling with allylmagnesium bromide gives (3), which on reaction with zinc dust in n-butanol generates 1,4-pentadiene. Thus one double bond is that of allyl bromide, and the other is generated by elimination of BrOCjH, from the bromohydrin ethyl ether (3). 

The condensation of a carbonyl compound with a polyhydric alcohol, to form a cyclic acetal, proceeds readily under anhydrous conditions in the presence of a catalyst, for example, concentrated sulfuric acid, hydrogen chloride, or anhydrous zinc chloride. The reaction involves the attack of the carbonium ion (1) on the alcoholic oxygen atom. The hemiacetal thus formed is rarely stable, and ring closure follows (see p. 302). 

Hydrochloric acid is a strong monobasic acid, dissolving metals to form salt and evolving hydrogen. The reaction may be slow if the chloride formed is insoluble (for example lead and silver are attacked very slowly). The rate of attack on a metal also depends on concentration thus aluminium is attacked most rapidly by 9 M hydrochloric acid, while with other metals such as zinc or iron, more dilute acid is best. 

The Fischer Indolisation Reaction occurs when the phenylhydrazone of a suitable aldehyde or ketone undergoes cyclisation with loss of ammonia, under the influence of various reagents, such as zinc chloride, ethnnolic hydrogen chloride, or acetic acid. For example, the phenylhydrazone of acetophenone (p. 257) when heated with zinc chloride gives 2 phenylindole. ... 

Allyl Chloride. Comparatively poor yields are obtained by the zinc chloride - hydrochloric acid method, but the following procedure, which employs cuprous chloride as a catalyst, gives a yield of over 90 per cent. Place 100 ml. of allyl alcohol (Section 111,140), 150 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 2 g. of freshly prepared cuprous chloride (Section II,50,i one tenth scale) in a 750 ml. round-bottomed flask equipped with a reflux condenser. Cool the flask in ice and add 50 ml. of concen trated sulphuric acid dropwise through the condenser with frequent shaking of the flask. A little hydrogen chloride may be evolved towards the end of the reaction. Allow the turbid liquid to stand for 30 minutes in order to complete the separation of the allyl chloride. Remove the upper layer, wash it with twice its volume of water, and dry over anhydrous calcium chloride. Distil the allyl chloride passes over at 46-47°. 

By the condensation of a nitrile with a phenol or phenol ether in the presence of zinc chloride and hydrogen chloride a hydroxyaryl- or alkoxyaryl-ketone is produced. The procedure is termed the Hoesch reaction and is clearly an extension of the Gattermann aldehyde reaction (Section IV,121). The reaction gives the best results with polyhydric phenols and their ethers with simple monohydric phenols the imino ester hydrochloride is frequently the sole product for example ... 

For reaction with hydrogen haUdes, the substitution reaction with haUde ion easily occurs when a cuprous or cupric compound is used as the catalyst (23) and yields a halogenated aHyl compound. With a cuprous compound as the catalyst at 18 °C, the reaction is completed in 6 h. Zinc chloride is also a good catalyst (24), but a by-product, diaHyl ether, is formed. 

Anhydrous zinc chloride can be made from the reaction of the metal with chlorine or hydrogen chloride. It is usually made commercially by the reaction of aqueous hydrochloric acid with scrap zinc materials or roasted ore, ie, cmde zinc oxide. The solution is purified in various ways depending upon the impurities present. For example, iron and manganese precipitate after partial neutralization with zinc oxide or other alkah and oxidation with chlorine or sodium hypochlorite. Heavy metals are removed with zinc powder. The solution is concentrated by boiling, and hydrochloric acid is added to prevent the formation of basic chlorides. Zinc chloride is usually sold as a 47.4 wt % (sp gr 1.53) solution, but is also produced in soHd form by further evaporation until, upon cooling, an almost anhydrous salt crystallizes. The soHd is sometimes sold in fused form. 

Gas Phase. The gas-phase methanol hydrochlorination process is used more in Europe and Japan than in the United States, though there is a considerable body of Hterature available. The process is typicaHy carried out as foHows vaporized methanol and hydrogen chloride, mixed in equimolar proportions, are preheated to 180—200°C. Reaction occurs on passage through a converter packed with 1.68—2.38 mm (8—12 mesh) alumina gel at ca 350°C. The product gas is cooled, water-scmbbed, and Hquefied. Conversions of over 95% of the methanol are commonly obtained. Garnma-alurnina has been used as a catalyst at 295—340°C to obtain 97.8% yields of methyl chloride (25). Other catalysts may be used, eg, cuprous or zinc chloride on active alumina, carbon, sHica, or pumice (26—30) sHica—aluminas (31,32) zeoHtes (33) attapulgus clay (34) or carbon (35,36). Space velocities of up to 300 h , with volumes of gas at STP per hour per volume catalyst space, are employed. 

Further dechlorination may occur with the formation of substituted diphenyhnethanes. If enough aluminum metal is present, the Friedel-Crafts reactions involved may generate considerable heat and smoke and substantial amounts of hydrogen chloride, which reacts with more aluminum metal, rapidly forming AlCl. The addition of an epoxide inhibits the initiation of this reaction by consuming HCl. Alkali, alkaline-earth, magnesium, and zinc metals also present a potential reactivity hazard with chlorinated solvents such as methylene chloride. 

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