9-Fluorenone Lab Report
Discussion: In this experiment a ketone, 9-fluorenone is reduced to and alcohol. The are two possible ways by which this reduction can occur. One is by a catalytic hydrogenation, this uses a catalyst such as palladium or nickel, hydrogen gas, and heat/pressure. This can reduced an alkane to alkene. This catalytic process is preferred in industrial practices because the cost is low in the long run and more importantly there is little to no waste expense. However, hydrogen gas is dangerous due to being very flammable/combustible. Therefore, a reducing agent will be used in this experiment instead. There are multiple types of reducing agents that reduce different types of functional groups and thus selection of the proper reducing agent is crucial.
…show more content…
It is important to note that one sodium hydride can reduce up to four 9-fluorenones because the are four equivalent hydride ions for every sodium borohydrides. To create the alcohol a dilute sulfuric acid is added to release the final product. It is important to minimize contact of sodium borohydride with air so that the reducing agent is not destroyed. The reaction can be observed as successful as 9-fluorenol is bright yellow, whereas 9-fluorenol is a white color. Approximately 100 mg of crude product is obtained through this experiment. Recrystallization occurs, however there is not one pure solvent that allows for recrystallization of 9-fluorenol. Thus, multiple solvents will be added together, water and methanol, the ratio of water to methanol must be determined for this to occur. Therefore, 1 mL of methanol will be added to the crude product in a test tube that is then taken to a boil in a water bath. Once boiling, water is added dropwise until the solution turns cloudy. The water must be added at the same temperature as methanol. Precipitate should form around the droplet of water added that then dissolves. Once the precipitate stops dissolving. At this point if methanol is added it should dissolve, therefore, this point is the correct ratio of water to methanol. However, in this experiment the reaction is stopped once the solution is cloudy and methanol is not added to make the solution
It is important to note that one sodium hydride can reduce up to four 9-fluorenones because the are four equivalent hydride ions for every sodium borohydrides. To create the alcohol a dilute sulfuric acid is added to release the final product. It is important to minimize contact of sodium borohydride with air so that the reducing agent is not destroyed. The reaction can be observed as successful as 9-fluorenol is bright yellow, whereas 9-fluorenol is a white color. Approximately 100 mg of crude product is obtained through this experiment. Recrystallization occurs, however there is not one pure solvent that allows for recrystallization of 9-fluorenol. Thus, multiple solvents will be added together, water and methanol, the ratio of water to methanol must be determined for this to occur. Therefore, 1 mL of methanol will be added to the crude product in a test tube that is then taken to a boil in a water bath. Once boiling, water is added dropwise until the solution turns cloudy. The water must be added at the same temperature as methanol. Precipitate should form around the droplet of water added that then dissolves. Once the precipitate stops dissolving. At this point if methanol is added it should dissolve, therefore, this point is the correct ratio of water to methanol. However, in this experiment the reaction is stopped once the solution is cloudy and methanol is not added to make the solution