Swim would really like to dream about using his newly made nitroethane for alpha-methylated compunds He has made so small amounts that to much will be lost, if drying over CaCl2. Therefore a dean stark trap would be nice!

I know what it does, but HOW does i work? Swim supposed one could be improvised, if the knew exactly how it worked.

Anyone?

Thanks!

The Dean-Stark trap provides a place for azeotropically distilled water to condense and be removed from the reaction. One could improvise a similar arrangement from distillation components. Vogel's cautions the use hardened rubber stoppers to prevent premature failure