Introduction:
Bromination of acetanilide to 4-bromoaniline was studied in this experiment. One of the most important mechanism with the reaction of aromatic compounds is the electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions(wade,2013). The electrophilic aromatic substitution enable scientists to make substituted aromatic compounds. However, substitution groups affect the electrophilic substitution mechanism. A nitrogen atom attached to hydrogen is learned to be a powerful activating group, which allow the procedure to go without a catalyst.
The bromination of the acetanilide gives the tribromide instead of 4-bromoaniline. preparing the 4-bromoaniline involves the attack of a strong electrophile and the hydrolysis of a proton to give the final product.
Chemicals and Safety:
Bromine is very poisonous, and can cause burns. Eyes, skin and nose should be protected while carrying the bromine inside the hood.
Glacial acid is also a very corrosive compound and can cause severe burns when it’s reacting with aromatic compounds. Also, the organic waste was disposed in the halogenated waste container.
Procedure:
In a reaction tube, 0.05 g of acetanilide is added and the exact mass is recorded. In the same reaction tube, 8 drops of glacial acid is added carefully inside the hood, and stirred well. Also, 8 drops of bromine in acetic acid is added, and placed for 10 minute in the hood until yellow crystals are forming. Then, 0.5 mL of water followed by 5 drops of sodium bisulfite solution are added to the reaction tube. The reaction tube is placed on an ice bath to cool down and increase the product yield. Then, for vacuum filtration, the product is rinsed with cold water and let it air dried for 5 minutes. The product is then recrystallized by warm 3 mL of 50% ethanol placed on a hot water bath, and the product is cooled down at room temperature. The product is weight and the melting point is recorded. Also, some of the product is mixed