Failed Al/Hg reduction of nitrostyrene

Harmonia · Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:24 pm

SWIM amalgamated Al with Hg2Cl2 (leaved slightly tainted Al, amalgamation complete?) Dissolved 2,4-dimethoxynitrostyrene in 100ml GAA, 150ml IPA and 50ml water with heating. Put in some aluminium, and then... NOTHING. It just sits there. What could be wrong? My bet is the amalgamation, but hmm..

bio · Working Bee

If you are inexperienced with amalgamating Al someone may be able to help you.

IF you provide a few details!

64bandil · Busy Bee

I've failed the Al/Hg a few times aswell. It has usually occured when i press the nitropropene batch size past 20 g's. The reaction simply never kicks in.

Im guessing the increased batch size, makes me fold the foil more and pressing it more together to take up a smaller volume. This could make the amalgamation go uncompleted and stops the reaction really fast.

icecool · Insistent Chemist

I now have a nice method, is it okay could anyone check it.
I now add the aluminium in portions and then it is more easy to add a lot of aluminium foil.
I don't make nuggets just put a sheet in the mixer and then you get those tiny crumbles and I add those in there in portions and add the amount of Al (e.g 20g) then I use 20mg HgCl2 and add that in portions like 2 or 3 times...