Phthalates aqueous alcoholic extractant

Methyl-2-pentanol [108-11-2] M 102.2, b 131-132", d 0.810, n 1.413. Washed with aqueous NaHC03, dried and distd. Further purified by conversion to the phthalate ester by adding 120mL of dry pyridine and 67g of phthalic anhydride per mole of alcohol, purifying the ester and steam distilling it in the presence of NaOH. The distillate was extracted with ether, and the extract was dried and fractionally distd. [Levine and Walti 7 Bio/ Chem 94 367 1931],... 

The hydrolysis of the active alkyl phthalates is usually carried out by dissolving them in a 20-25% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide containing 2.5 moles of alkali and distilling the mixture with steam. Filtration or extraction of the alcohol may be necessary when it is not volatile with steam. No evidence of racemization has been observed with various types of saturated alcohols even on prolonged boiling with concentrated aqueous alkali. Certain alcohols of the allylic type or alcohols otherwise sensitive to alkali or to heating may require more cautious treatment, both in the hydrolysis and in the subsequent final purification. Should the alcohol be foimd to be optically impure at this stage it sometimes may be purified by recrystallization. Either the... 

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