The Vespiary

The Hive => Tryptamine Chemistry => Topic started by: Ghost_Of_BT on September 22, 2001, 12:36:00 PM

Title: How to make IAA methyl/ethyl ester
Post by: Ghost_Of_BT on September 22, 2001, 12:36:00 PM
A while back, I saw a page giving some general proceedures for making methyl and ethyl esters, but I can't find it again (dont you hate when that happens). Could someone please give the proceedure for making IAA methyl or ethyl ester?
Title: Re: How to make IAA methyl/ethyl ester
Post by: Ghost_Of_BT on September 24, 2001, 01:36:00 PM
I took some notes from a couple textbooks on esterification:

-Esterificatiton reactions proceed very slowly without an acid catalyst but reach equalibrium in only a few hours when an alcohol and acid are refluxed with a small amount of concentrated H2SO4 or HCl.
-HCl is passed through a mixture of alcohol and acid untill solution gains 3% weight and it is than refluxed (Fisher-Sperier method). Yeilds very good.
-The caboxylic esters are sweet smeling solids or liquids.

I guesse I answered my own question. My plan is to reflux a solution of IAA and 3% HCl for a few hours and evaporate. Any apperent problems with that?
Title: Re: How to make IAA methyl/ethyl ester
Post by: Rhodium on September 24, 2001, 02:16:00 PM
In that case, make that 3% HCl in anhydrous methanol/ethanol. Water pushes the equilibrium the wrong way.
Title: Re: How to make IAA methyl/ethyl ester
Post by: Ghost_Of_BT on September 24, 2001, 05:37:00 PM
Oops, that was a typo. I meant to say 3% HCl in methanol. Thanks.