Swig added a few drops (prob. 1.5-3mL) in a 50ml flask, preheated oil bath, and heated. As the temp. got to about 70c, Swig notice whiteness swirling around, as clear liquid ran down the flask. Swig turned the heat off and rest until the next day, where he found brown gak, however clear liquid still remained floating on top, and round the brown gak. Swig used a flash light, and was attempted without reduce pressure.
What did you intend to accomplish by heating the benzyl bromide to 70°C and then letting it cool overnight?
Wouldn't benzyl bromide be the best choice, since it makes a better organometallic compound.
It would likely be more reactive, but benzyl chloride is one of the most reactive grignards as it is, and with increased reactivity you sometimes risk getting more side reactions.
Also it seems that benzyl chloride is harder to purify then benzyl bromide.
How do you know, when you haven't bothered to even try?
Swig was thinking test run, do you think he would get some product if it was not distilled?
Maybe, but why risk getting nothing or an impure mess?
What would you do if you did not have a source for reduce pressure, besides finding a source for reduce pressure.
Distill the benzyl bromide, collecting the fraction boiling at ~198°C, discarding any forerun and high-boiling residue.
P.S. Swig was thinking about taking some CaCl2 and placing it in a cup of water, and then drying to form CaCl2*H2O, which could be use to get colder temperture, and seprating. What do you think?
Evaporating a calcium chloride solution at room temp forms the hexahydrate, CaCl2·6H2O (mp 27°C), which you can use in a cooling bath mixture together with crushed ice.