chemistry
Abstract
By adding HCl to 2-methyl-2-butanol, through the Sn1 mechanism, 2-chloro-2-methylbutane is formed. Water, sodium bicarbonate and NaCl(aq) were then added to the 2-chloro-2-methylbutane to remove any of the excess water from the reaction. To confirm, a successful reaction, AgNO3 was added to the 2-chloro-2-methylbutane. A white precipitate formation confirmed a successful Sn1 reaction.
Introduction
Nucleophilic substitution reactions such as Sn1 and Sn2 allow us to convert one functional group to another. For Sn1 reactions, a tertiary alcohol, such as 2-methyl-2-butanol is most favorable for the reaction because when the leaving group leaves, it will leave a + charge on the carbon it was attached to, and a tertiary carbocation is the most stable. Another important requirement for a Sn1 reaction is a weak nucleophile attack group. Hydrochloric acid is a weak group because it has no negative charge, and works well for the reaction.
Reaction for formation of 2-chloro-2-methylbutane
The goal of this experiment was to form 2-chloro-2-methylbutane by addition of HCl, causing a Sn1 reaction to occur.
Chemical Reactions
Safety
1. Full sleeved shirt, pants, shoes, gloves and goggles worn at all times
2. Neutralize acid spills with saturated sodium bicarbonate
3. Chlorinated carbon is toxic, targets liver and kidneys
4. Do not breathe any chemical, or get on skin
5. 12M HCl highly corrosive
6. All parts of experiment done under hood
Experimental
The procedure for this experiment appears on pages 4 and 5 on hand lab #6 Preparation of 2-chloro-2-methylbutane-An Sn1 Reaction [1]. In this experiment, the instructor requested that 4 ml diethyl ether be added to the solution in the conical vial after step 4 to help better see the difference between the organic and aqueous layer. During step 4, NaCl(aq) was also available, and was used instead of water. The last test involving NaI was not performed.
Results A volume of 1.54 ml of
By adding HCl to 2-methyl-2-butanol, through the Sn1 mechanism, 2-chloro-2-methylbutane is formed. Water, sodium bicarbonate and NaCl(aq) were then added to the 2-chloro-2-methylbutane to remove any of the excess water from the reaction. To confirm, a successful reaction, AgNO3 was added to the 2-chloro-2-methylbutane. A white precipitate formation confirmed a successful Sn1 reaction.
Introduction
Nucleophilic substitution reactions such as Sn1 and Sn2 allow us to convert one functional group to another. For Sn1 reactions, a tertiary alcohol, such as 2-methyl-2-butanol is most favorable for the reaction because when the leaving group leaves, it will leave a + charge on the carbon it was attached to, and a tertiary carbocation is the most stable. Another important requirement for a Sn1 reaction is a weak nucleophile attack group. Hydrochloric acid is a weak group because it has no negative charge, and works well for the reaction.
Reaction for formation of 2-chloro-2-methylbutane
The goal of this experiment was to form 2-chloro-2-methylbutane by addition of HCl, causing a Sn1 reaction to occur.
Chemical Reactions
Safety
1. Full sleeved shirt, pants, shoes, gloves and goggles worn at all times
2. Neutralize acid spills with saturated sodium bicarbonate
3. Chlorinated carbon is toxic, targets liver and kidneys
4. Do not breathe any chemical, or get on skin
5. 12M HCl highly corrosive
6. All parts of experiment done under hood
Experimental
The procedure for this experiment appears on pages 4 and 5 on hand lab #6 Preparation of 2-chloro-2-methylbutane-An Sn1 Reaction [1]. In this experiment, the instructor requested that 4 ml diethyl ether be added to the solution in the conical vial after step 4 to help better see the difference between the organic and aqueous layer. During step 4, NaCl(aq) was also available, and was used instead of water. The last test involving NaI was not performed.
Results A volume of 1.54 ml of