A post-wacker reaction solution was distilled under vacuum to yield an almost clear solution with only a hint of yellow.  The density was approximately 0.98g/mL and the compound distilled over at 86C (strength of the vacuum unknown, unfortunately).  The solution smelled slightly of the original safrole.  Any ideas how I can figure out the isosafrole/MDP2P content of this solution?  I'm wondering if what I've got even has MDP2P in it to begin with.  I'm not familiar with the smell of MDP2P so I can't say anything on that end. Comments and suggestions welcome.

swim always uses toluene to extract his ketone.  it is always bright fluorescent yellow and has a lovely floral scent.  here are some densities for you:

safrole: 1.096 g/ml
cis-isosafrole: 1.118 g/ml
trans-isosafrole: 1.206 g/ml
mdp2p: 1.21 g/ml

that density you measured wouldn't explain any typical mixture of safrole/isosafrole/mdp2p as any mixture of those 3 would be at least safrole's density or higher.  to get less than safrole's density it'd seem you'd have to have MeOH in it would be the only explanation, but more likely a better explanation is perhaps the volumetric device you're using isn't very accurate?  another idea is that this unknown oil is another natural oil in the essential oil from whatever plant source the EO is from, what type of oil were you starting from, albidum?  is there a chance that the sassafras oil was a fragrance oil and not an essential oil?  a sodium bisulfite/metabisulfite test might help also.

every time swim does anything and gets to his freebase goodies he neutralizes (slightly acidic 6-5ph) with 10% HCl and extracts the left over P2P's and iso's with the appropriate solvent then basify the solution again to extract the goodies which is then dried and gassed. you could try re distilling but place careful control on the temp. creep it up little by little untill some distillate comes over and use a vigreux fractionating column before your condenser. pretty much as soon as you see a drip form on you thermometer stop increasing the temp and collect that distillate fraction, then slowly increase again untill the next fraction comes over and so on untill nothing is left but residue. it helpful to wrap the vigreux in insulation so it stays warm. you dont want stuff to condense in there.