Magnesium anhydrous

An Italian patent refers to an Mncendiary mixture activated by water drops of powdered magnesium, anhydrous copper sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and potassium chlorate. The water permits both the exothermic reaction Mg+Cu++->Mg+ 4-Cu and the metathetical reaction of the salts, which produces the unstable ammonium chlorate. The latter then reacts with excess magnesium. While it is claimed that little heat is produced in moist air, this mixture is undoubtedly unstable and hazardous. There is a possibility of spontaneous ignition whenever a chlorate and an ammonium salt are present, though in some formulas they appear to be harmlessly combined. 

Now remove the flask from the water-bath, and slowly add a solution of 5 ml. (5-2 g.) of dry ethyl benzoate in 15 ml. of anhydrous ether down the condenser in small quantities at a time, mixing the contents of the flask thoroughly between each addition. When the boiling of the ether again subsides, return the flask to the water-bath and reheat for a further 15 minutes. Then cool the mixture in ice-water, and carefully pour off the ethereal solution into a mixture of about 60 ml. of dilute sulphuric acid. and 100 g. of crushed ice contained in a flask of about 500 ml. capacity fitted for stearn-distillation, taking care to leave behind any unchanged magnesium. 

Anhydrous magnesium sulphate. This is an excellent, neutral desiccating agent and is inexpensive. It is rapid in its action, chemically inert and fairly efficient, and can be employed for most compounds including those (esters, aldehydes, ketones, nitriles, amides, etc.) to which calcium chloride is not applicable. 

Phosphorus pentoxide. This is an extremely efficient reagent and is rapid in its reaction. Phosphoric oxide is difficult to handle, channels badly, is expensive, and tends to form a syrupy coating on its surface after a little use. A preliminary drying with anhydrous magnesium... 

Metallic sodium. This metal is employed for the drying of ethers and of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The bulk of the water should first be removed from the liquid or solution by a preliminary drying with anhydrous calcium chloride or magnesium sulphate. Sodium is most effective in the form of fine wire, which is forced directly into the liquid by means of a sodium press (see under Ether, Section II,47,i) a large surface is thus presented to the liquid. It cannot be used for any compound with which it reacts or which is affected by alkalis or is easily subject to reduction (due to the hydrogen evolved during the dehydration), viz., alcohols, acids, esters, organic halides, ketones, aldehydes, and some amines. 

Alcohols Anhydrous potassium carbonate anhydrous magnesium or calcium sulphate quicklime. 

Alkyl halides Aryl halides Anhydrous calcium chloride anhydrous sodium, magnesium or calcium sulphate phosphorus pentoxide. 

Aldehydes Anhydrous sodium, magnesium or calcium sulphate. 

Formamide. Commercial formamide may contain excess of formic acid. It is purified by passing ammonia gas into the mixture until a slight alkaline reaction is obtained. The ammonium formate thus formed is precipitated by the addition of acetone the filtrate, after drying over anhydrous magnesium sulphate, is distilled under reduced pressure. Pure formamide has b.p. IO571I mm. 

All hydrocarbons prepared by th -. Wurtz reaction contain small quantities of unsaturated hydrocarbons. These may be removed by shaking repeatedly with 10 pier cent, of the volume of concentrated sulphuric acid until the acid is no longer coloured (or is at most extremely pale yellow) each shaking should be of about 5 minutes duration. The hydrocarbon is washed with water, 10 pier cent sodium carbonate solution, water (twice), and dried with anhydrous magnesium or calcium sulphate. It is then distilled from sodium two distillations are usually necessary... 

Dichlorobutane. Place 22-5g. of redistilled 1 4-butanediol and 3 ml. of dry pyridine in a 500 ml. three necked flask fitted with a reflux condenser, mechanical stirrer and thermometer. Immerse the flask in an ice bath. Add 116 g. (71 ml.) of redistilled thionyl chloride dropwise fix>m a dropping funnel (inserted into the top of the condenser) to the vigorously stirred mixture at such a rate that the temperature remains at 5-10°. When the addition is complete, remove the ice bath, keep the mixture overnight, and then reflux for 3 hours. Cool, add ice water cautiously and extract with ether. Wash the ethereal extract successively with 10 per cent sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and distil. Collect the 1 4-dichloro-butane at 55-5-56-5°/14 mm. the yield is 35 g. The b.p. under atmospheric pressure is 154 155°. 

Dibromobutane from 1 4 butanediol). In a 500 ml. threenecked flask fltted with a stirrer, reflux condenser and dropping funnel, place 154 g. (105 ml.) of 48 per cent, hydrobromic acid. Cool the flask in an ice bath. Add slowly, with stirring, 130 g. (71 ml.) of concentrated sulphuric acid. To the resulting ice-cold solution add 30 g. of redistilled 1 4-butanediol dropwise. Leave the reaction mixture to stand for 24 hours heat for 3 hours on a steam bath. The reaction mixture separates into two layers. Separate the lower layer, wash it successively with water, 10 per cent, sodium carbonate solution and water, and then dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Distil and collect the 1 4-dibromo-butane at 83-84°/12 mm. The yield is 55 g. 

In a 500 ml. three-necked flask, equipped with a thermometer, a sealed Hershberg stirrer and a reflux condenser, place 32-5 g. of phosphoric oxide and add 115-5 g. (67-5 ml.) of 85 per cent, orthophosphoric acid (1). When the stirred mixture has cooled to room temperature, introduce 166 g. of potassium iodide and 22-5 g. of redistilled 1 4-butanediol (b.p. 228-230° or 133-135°/18 mm.). Heat the mixture with stirring at 100-120° for 4 hours. Cool the stirred mixture to room temperature and add 75 ml. of water and 125 ml. of ether. Separate the ethereal layer, decolourise it by shaking with 25 ml. of 10 per cent, sodium thiosulphate solution, wash with 100 ml. of cold, saturated sodium chloride solution, and dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Remove the ether by flash distillation (Section 11,13 compare Fig. II, 13, 4) on a steam bath and distil the residue from a Claisen flask with fractionating side arm under diminished pressure. Collect the 1 4-diiodobutane at 110°/6 mm. the yield is 65 g. 

---