RECRYSTALLIZATION Meah G. Pacheco, Pacheco, Paola Louise R. Palma, Fleur Jeizl P. Perez, Maria Godesa F. Refuerzo and Michelle Nhat Ly T. Reyes Group 6 2F Pharmacy Organic Chemistry Laboratory ABSTRACT The experiment was conducted by recrystallization to obtain the pure acetanilide from the crude acetanilide. Acetylation of aniline was conducted to synthesize the crude acetanilide crystals by cooling the aniline and acetic anhydride solution. Before purifying the crude acetanilide, the recrystallizing solvent was identified first. Among the three solvents (water, methanol, and hexane), water was used to recrystallize the crude acetanilide to pure acetanilide crystals. The crude acetanilide was 7.2 grams in its weight and yielded 40.54% of pure acetanilide which weighed 1.2 grams.
INTRODUCTION Recrystallization is the primary method for purifying solid organic compounds. Compounds obtained from natural sources or from reaction mixtures almost always contain impurities. The impurities may include some combination of insoluble, soluble, and colored impurities. To obtain a pure compound, these impurities must be removed. Each is removed in a separate step in the recrystallization procedure. [8] Acetylation of aniline by acetic anhydride was performed to synthesize the crude acetanilide. The obtained crude acetanilide contained acetic acid as well as unreacted acetic anhydride. The said impurities of the crude acetanilide were removed using activated charcoal, filtration and recrystallization.
EXPERIMENTAL A. Compounds tested Aniline Aniline is a clear to slightly yellow liquid with a characteristic odor. It does not readily evaporate at room temperature. Aniline is slightly soluble in water and mixes readily with most organic solvents. Aniline is used to make a wide variety of products such as polyurethane foam, agricultural chemicals,
Preparation of Aniline: C6H5NO2 + 3 H2
→
C6H5NH2 + 2 H2O
(a)
(b) Figure 1. (a) Hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (b) Bechamp reduction
Acetic anhydride Acetic anhydride is clear, colorless liquid with a strong, pungent, sour vinegar-like odor, lachrymator. [5] Acetic anhydride is an important solvent and acetylation agent. [4] It is used in the manufacture of acetyl compound, cellulose acetates, acetylizer and solvent in examining wool fat, glycerol, fatty and volatile oils, resins, detection of rosin, in organic synthesis, such as dehydrating agent in nitrations, sulfonations and other reactions where removal of water is necessary. [5]
synthetic dyes, antioxidants, stabilizers for the rubber industry, herbicides, varnishes and explosives.
[2]
Acetic
anhydride
is
prepared
by
the
carbonylation of methyl acetate. There is a two-stage process for the preparation of
Aniline is prepared commercially by the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene or by the action of ammonia on chlorobenzene. The reduction of nitrobenzene can also be carried out with iron borings in aqueous acid. [6]
acetic anhydride, in which, in a first step, methyl bromide or, preferably, iodide is carbonylated to provide the corresponding acetyl halide, such acetyl halide in turn being reacted with methyl acetate, in a second
step, to provide acetic anhydride, which corresponds
to
the
following
reaction
solution was then placed in an ice bath to form crystals of crude acetanilide.
scheme, in the event that methyl iodide is the starting material:
[7]
Step 1: CH3I + CO
→
CH3COI
Step 2: CH3COI + CH3COOCH3
→
(CH3CO)2O + CH3I
Figure 2. Carbonylation of methyl acetate
B. Procedure 1. Choosing the Recrystallizing Solvent
Figure 4. 2mL of aniline mixed with 20mL of distilled water
A corn-grain amount of pure acetanilide was placed into each of three test tubes. Methanol, hexane, and water were added to each test tube respectively. Each was shaken and was placed in a warm bath (37oC-40oC) for 1-5 minutes and then was cooled.
Figure 5. 3mL of acetic anhydride added to the aniline solution
Figure 3. Pure acetanilide in test tubes containing different solvents – methanol, hexane, water respectively.
2. Acetylation of Aniline by Acetic Anhydride Aniline solution was made by mixing 2mL of aniline with 20mL of distilled water. 3mL of acetic anhydride was then added to the solution to form acetylation. The over-all
Figure 6. Crystallization of crude acetanilide in an ice bath
3. Purification of Crude Acetanilide by Recrystallization The crude acetanilide crystals were filtered through a wet filter paper. The residue was then dried and weighed. In a separate Erlenmeyer flask, the crude acetanilide residue was placed and 20mL of the recrystallizing solvent was added. The solution was then heated on a hot plate until the entire solid dissolved completely. When the solution became colored, it was removed from the heat and enough amount of activated charcoal was added. The heating process continued until the solution became colorless. While the solution was still hot, it was quickly filtered using a fluted filter paper. Its filtrate was then cooled by placing the receiver in a beaker with cold water. The crystals that formed were collected and were washed. When the crystals completely dried up, it was then weighed.
Figure 8. Crude acetanilide residue mixed with the recrystallizing solvent
Figure 9. Heating process of the solution
Figure 7. Filtration of the crude acetanilide crystals
Figure 10. Addition of the activated charcoal to the solution
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Choosing the Recrystallizing Solvent Among the three recrystallizing solvents – methanol, hexane, and water, water was chosen to be used in the recrystallization of the acetanilide. Table 1. Solubility of pure acetanilide in various solvents
Figure 11. Continued heating process of the solution until colorless
At room During Upon temp. heating cooling Water Insoluble Soluble Insoluble Methanol Soluble Soluble Soluble Hexane Insoluble Insoluble Insoluble 2. Acetylation of Aniline by Acetic Anhydride The crude acetanilide was obtained by the acetylation of the aniline. The crude acetanilide obtained was 7.2 grams in its weight. 3. Purification of Crude Acetanilide by Recrystallization Pure acetanilide was obtained by the recrystallization of the crude acetanilide. From the 7.2 grams of crude acetanilide, 1.2 grams of pure acetanilide was gathered. Theoretical Yield:
Figure 12. Filtration and recrystallization of the acetanilide
Aniline 2mL x 1.0217 g/mL = 2.0434 g 2.04 g x
1 mol x 93.13 g
135.17 g 1 mol
=
2.96 g Acetanilide Acetic Anhydride 3mL x 1.082 g/mL = 3.246 g 3.246 g x 1 mol x 102.09 g
135.17 g 1 mol
=
4.30 g Acetanilide Figure 13. Weighing of the dried acetanilide crystals
∴
Aniline is the limiting reagent.
Percentage Yield: =
Actual Yield Theoretical Yield
=
1.20 grams 2.96 grams
=
40.54 %
x 100
x 100
The experiment conducted was able to perform different chemical processes. In choosing the recrystallizing solvent, solubility test was conducted among various solvents – methanol, hexane, and water. The solubility test resulted to the conclusion of choosing water as the recrystallizing solvent. The experiment also included the acetylation of aniline by acetic anhydride to form the crude acetanilide. In the experiment, 7.2 grams of crude acetanilide was obtained. Since the crude acetanilide has impurities, it was purified by several processes – heating of solution, activated charcoal addition, and recrystallization. When recrystallization has already occurred in the solution, the pure acetanilide was then obtained. 40.54% of the pure acetanilide was gathered with its weight of 1.2 grams.
REFERENCES [1] Acetylation of Aniline using Acetic Anhydride. http://prolabscientific.com/Acetylation-of-Anilineusing-Acetic-Anhydride-p-23917.html. [2] Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: Toxic Substances Portal – Aniline. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=449 &tid=79. [3] Bayquen, A. V., Cruz, C. T., de Guia, R. M., Lampa, F. F., Peńa, G. T., Sarile, A. S., & Torres, P. C. (2009). Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry. 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. [4] Chemical Book: Acetic Anhydride. http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductP roperty_EN_CB2852742.htm.
[5] Chemical Book: Acetic anhydride (108-24-7). http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductMSDSDeta ilCB2852742_EN.htm. [6] Encyclopædia Britannica: Aniline. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25 473/aniline. [7] Gauthier-Lafaye et al. Carbonylation of methyl acetate. http://www.google.com.ph/patents?hl=en&lr=&vi d=USPAT4500474&id=ymY2AAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&d q=carbonylation+of+methyl+acetate&printsec=a bstract#v=onepage&q=carbonylation%20of%20 methyl%20acetate&f=false. [8] Recrystallization. http://www.chem.umass.edu/~samal/269/cryst1 .pdf.
