solvent inert to CaC2?

[El_Zorro]

What solvents are inert towards CaC₂?  More specifically, one that acetamide would be fairly soluble in.

[pHarmacist]

What does this has to do with: Novel synthetic routes to psychoactive materials

[El_Zorro]

Well, I didn't really mention it in the question but I was asking this so that I could start forming a procedure for dehydrating acetamide to acetonitrile.  So if anybody has thoughts on that too, I'd like to hear them.

[Rhodium]

You want a solvent not containing any acidic hydrogens or other functional groups sensitive to bases. Such solvents include hydrocarbons (like hexane/toluene) and ethers (THF/Et₂O).

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (DCM, chloroform) might react, so don't use them just to be safe. Esters, alcohols and ketones and any solvents not properly dried are directly unsuitable.

[Tengo]

Would CaC2 dissolve in benzaldehyde, forming (after acidification) 1,4-diphenyl-1,4-dihydroxy-2-butyne?
CaC2 + 2Ph-CHO -> Ph-C(OH)-C---C-C(OH)-Ph

[Rhodium]

According to what mechanism?

[Tengo]

Just a thought... C₂2- being such a strong base, that it would add to the carbonyl and making a hydroxy... S_N2 basically... Well... a nucleophile attack anyway...
If CaC2 won't dissolve in benzaldehyde, then this wouldn't work. But perhaps with another solvent...?

[Tengo]

Anybody...any knowledge about this...?

[PolytheneSam]

Maybe you could heat acetamide and CaC2 together without a solvent.  Try a small amount in a test tube.  You could connect a one hole rubber stopper and 90 degree piece of glass tubing to the test tube and then connect a condenser to it and see if you can distill off any CH3CN.