N-Butyrates

Let us consider a specific example, viz., the extraction of a solution of 4 Og. of n-butyric acid in 100 ml. of water at 15° with 100 ml. of benzene at 15°. The partition coefficient of the acid between benzene and water may be taken as 3 (or J between water and benzene) at 15°. For a single extraction with benzene, we have ... 

Hence one extraction with 100 ml. of benzene removes 3 0 g. (or 75 per cent.) of the n-butyric acid, whilst three extractions remove 3 5 g. (or 87-5 per cent.) of the total acid. This clearly shows the greater efficiency of extraction obtainable with several extractions when the total volume of solvent is the same. Moreover, the smaller the distribution coefficient between the organic solvent and the water, the larger the number of extractions that will be necessary. 

Ethyl n-butyrate. Use a mixture of 88 g. (92 ml.) of n-butyric acid, 23 g. (29 ml.) of ethanol and 9 g. (5 ml.) of concentrated sulphuric acid. Reflux for 14 hours. Pour into excess of water, wash several times with water, followed by saturated sodium bicarbonate solution until all the acid is removed, and finally with water. Dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and distU. The ethyl n-but3rrate passes over at 119 5-120-5°, Yield 40 g. An improved yield can be obtained by distilhng the reaction mixture through an efficient fractionating column until the temperature rises to 125°, and purifying the crude ester as detailed above under methyl acetate. 

Only esters containing two a-hydrogen atoms (ethyl acetate, propionate, n-butyrate, etc.) can be condensed with the aid of sodium alkoxides. For esters with one a-hydrogen atom, such as ethyl tsobutyrate, the more powerful base sodium triphenylmethide PhaC Na leads to condensation with the formation of ethyl a-tsobutyrylisobutyrate ... 

The ketones are readily prepared, for example, acetophenone from benzene, acetyl chloride (or acetic anhydride) and aluminium chloride by the Friedel and Crafts reaction ethyl benzyl ketones by passing a mixture of phenylacetic acid and propionic acid over thoria at 450° and n-propyl- p-phenylethylketone by circulating a mixture of hydrocinnamic acid and n-butyric acid over thoria (for further details, see under Aromatic Ketones, Sections IV,136, IV,137 and IV,141). 

Ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, glycerol, n - butanol, n - butyric acid, amyl alcohols, oxalic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, amino acids, antibiotics, vitamins... 

Acetyl-a-amino-n-butyric acid [34271-24-4] M 145.2, pK 3.72. Crystd twice from water (charcoal) and air dried [King and King J Am Chem Soc 78 1089 7956]. 

V,7V,7V, 7V -Tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA, TEMED) [110-18-9] M 116.2, b 122°, d 1.175, n 1.4153, pK 5.90, pKj 9.14. Partially dried with molecular sieves (Linde type 4A), and distd in vacuum from butyl lithium. This treatment removes all traces of primary and secondary amines and water. [Hay, McCabe and Robb J Chem Soc, Faraday Trans 1 68 1 1972.] Or, dried with KOH pellets. Refluxed for 2h with one-sixth its weight of n-butyric anhydride (to remove primary and secondary amines) and fractionally distd. Refluxed with fresh KOH, and distd under nitrogen. [Cram and Wilson 7 Am C/iem Soc 85 1245 796i.] Also distd from sodium. 

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