SWID, despite doing numerous searches and reading using both TFSE and google (as well as his organic chem books), still hasn't been able to understand the difference between these two reactions.
They start off the same...react an arylakyl-halide with hexamine to form the quaternary salt. Then both reactions call for acid hydrolysis, yet they each claim a distinctly different product. The only clue that SWID has been able to find is where the MERCK calls for "mild hydrolysis" in the Sommelet reaction. Alluding, but not exactly clearly informative.
Can someone please post an example or reference of a Sommelet, and perhaps even explain the mechanistic difference between the two named reactions? It would be ever so appreciated, SWID is quite confused.
EDIT:SWID noticed just now that the MERCK doesn't mention the use of acid...will just refluxing in plain water or 50% ethanol cause the hydrolysis of the quaternary compound?