Go by Vogel's method as posted by Terbium in Post 261199 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=6776.msg26119900#msg26119900)
(terbium: "Re: p-toluenesulfonic acid", Chemistry Discourse). Bring 3 molar eq toluene and 1 molar eq 95% sulfuric acid to a very light reflux in a flask equipped with a dean stark trap and a condenser with good stirring. Then slowly increase the heat... you'll produce a some nasty SO2 if you heat it too fast. Make sure to use a Dean Stark trap to isolate the water formed. Once I get mine, I'll have another run on making tosic acid and use it for rearrangement (this way I can also use it as an indicator of the progress of the conversion of the glycol in toluene, an idea that Ritter has privately mentioned)... I'm very hopeful about this route, especially with regard to rearranging asarone glycol.
Hey Bees!
Finished making epoxide see Post 338466 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=9870.msg33846600#msg33846600)
(hCiLdOdUeDn: "Ok...here are the results..", Methods Discourse) and Post 338527 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=9870.msg33852700#msg33852700)
(hCiLdOdUeDn: "^^^Too late. Ok, phew...SWIM is now finished!!!", Methods Discourse) for detailed writeup.
This is what SWIM did once he got his epoxide made. He added ~70ml of crude epoxide dissolved in 100mL ethanol with 450mL 15% h2so4, (note this is 25% less h2so4 than what is usually used) This was refluxed in a 1L FB Boiling Flask with reflux condensor and was put on a water bath for 5hours (instead of 3). The water bath was on a light boil.
Once finished the solution was poured into 1L seperatory funnel and there were two distinct layers. The bottom layer was a blood-red colored and way seperated off and kept. The top layer was extracted with 3x75mL DCM and the extracts were put with the first seperated layer. This left me with ~350mL of opaque reddish colored solution. The solvents were evaporated and SWIM was left with ~75mL deep red residue which was fairly fluid like. SWIM was jumping for joy at this point.
The 75mL deep red residue went through distillation in a simple vacuum distillation setup (boiling flask, still head, condensor, vacuum adapter, recieving flask) The first fraction that came over came over at 160C, this is suspected iso-safrole as SWIMS safrole comes over at ~145. This first fraction was clear and about 5mL worth and saved for future use. The second fraction came over at 190C and about 50mL came over then no more came over. SWIM was so nervous at that point as he did not want things to get screwed up so he stopped. This left SWIM with very light yellow clear liquid and very water like. The rest of the resiude was approx 10mL worth and simply discarded. Although maybe more could have came over this was good enough for SWIM. JUMPING FOR JOY!! SWIM cant wait for his first amination and crystallization.
So it works!! Ethanol as solvent & less h2so4. The BP for the second fraction is right so SWIM should have good KETONE.
THANKS BEES SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!
hcildoduedn