Speier

Fig. 23(B) shows a modification of the reflux assembly to allow a gas to be passed through the boiling liquid cf. Fischer-Speier esterification, p. 104). The inlet-tube A fits into a three-necked adaptor shown in Fig. 22(J). The stopper B can be replaced by a dropping-funnel, etc.

As a general rule esterification by the Fischer-Speier method should be carried out using absolute cthanob in the following preparation of ethyl benzoate, however, the yield is not sensibly affected by the use of the cheaper rectified spirit. 

For a further example of the Fischer-Speier method, see Ethyl cinnamate,... 

Cinnamic acid can be readily esterified by the Fischer-Speier method without any risk of the addition of hydrogen chloride at the double bond. Proceed precisely as for the preparation of ethyl benzoate (p. 104), using 20 g. of cinnamic acid and 20 ml. of rectified spirit. When the crude product is poured into water, a sharp separation of the ester is not readily obtained, and hence the addition of about 10 ml. of carbon tetrachloride is particularly desirable. Finally distil off the carbon... 

Examples of the preparation of simple aliphatic esters by Fischer and Speier s method in which an excess of acid is employed are —... 

The mother liquors from the washings and recrystallisations are saved for the recovery of the 4-nitrophthalic acid. The combined mother liquors ore concentrated to a small bulk and the acid is extracted with ether. Upon esterification by the Fischer - Speier method, the 3-nitro acid forms only the acid ester and may be removed by shaking the product with sodium carbonate solution, whilst the neutral ester of 4-iiitrophthalic acid remains unaffected. Hydrolysis of the neutral ester gives the pure 4-nltrophthalio acid, m.p. 165°. 

The ethyl 7-veratrylbutyrate, b.p. 203-207°/20 mm., is obtained in 80% yield by esterification of 7-veratrylbutyric acid by the Fischer-Speier method. The 7-veratrylbutyric acid is prepared by the method of E. L. Martin from /3-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzoyl)-propionic acid. 

Chlorophenylacetic acid has been prepared from mandeloni-trile and hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube, from mandelic acid and hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube/ from a-nitrostyrene and hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube, from phenylglycine, hydrochloric acid, and sodium nitrite, from mandelic acid and phosphorus pentachloride (to give the acid chloride which is then hydrolyzed), and, in poor yield, from mandelic acid and thionyl chloride. In the method described, ethyl mandelate is prepared according to Fischer and Speier. The conversion to the chloroester and the acid hydrolysis step are modifications of a preparation described by McKenzie and Barrow. ... 

The most common catalyst used to date is chloroplatinic acid (also known, after its discoverer, as Speier s catalyst) it is now clear that, contrary to earlier views (23), hydrosilylation is a homogeneous process (25, 208). A major problem is that of reproducibility, and efforts are being made to utilize soluble transition metal complexes. Information about such systems has been used in the interpretation of some related catalytic heterogeneous reactions (232). 

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