GBL/NMP + NaOH ----------> NaGHB + ?

[M3Psych]

Assume one has a very large quantity of GBL which has been adulterated w/ NMP (n-methyl-pyrrolidine). Reacting NaOH with this will obviously produce a quantity of GHB, but will the NMP react w/ the NaOH to form any nasties?

I had an idea to react the NaOH w/ the GBL/NMP, steam distill off the remaining unreacted GBL/NMP as their BP's are within 2-4 deg. C and evaporating the remainder to yield NaGHB powder (and probably some other heavy metal nasties). Then react the NaGHB w/ H2SO4 to go back to GBL and then distill.

My quandry is that the NMP would react w/ the NaOH to form a nasty, or form a product which would limit the reaction of the GBL w/ the NaOH.

Anyone?

[acid_egg]

steam distill off the remaining unreacted GBL/NMP as their BP's are within 2-4 deg. C

Thats is incorrect and irrelevant anyway, N-methyl-pyrrolidine has a much lower bp compared to GBL...~80C compared to ~200C for gbl. Why don't you distill the NMP off from the outset?

[moo]

The compound is most probably N-methylpyrrolidone, not N-methylpyrrolidine. This has been discussed before.

[Rhodium]

Post 83268

(Rhodium: "Separation of NMP and Butyrolactone (GBL)", Chemicals & Equipment)