Procedure: To a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask containing a mixture of 95% ethanol (6 mL) and acetic acid (5 mL), dissolve acetanilide (7.4 mmol) and sodium bromide (1.8 g). Place the reaction flask in an ice bath (at least 5oC) for 5 minutes (keep this reaction in the hood). Add sodium hypochlorite (8.3 mmol) by addition of household bleach; leave the reaction flask in the ice bath 5 min. After removing the flask from the ice bath and placing a watch glass over the opening, allow the reaction mixture to come to room temperature over 15 minutes. Place the reaction flask into the ice bath and quench the unreacted bromine by addition of both 5 mL of sodium thiosulfate solution (1 g/5 mL) and 5 mL sodium hydroxide solution(1 g/5 mL ); collect the product by suction filtration. Recrystalllize the brominated product from a minimum amount of solvent. You will need to select a solvent from water, 50% ethanol or 95% ethanol. To identify the best solvent, use what you have learned in Organic I Chemistry Lab, hint: think about what properties makes a good recrystallization solvent. Test your recrystallization solvent in test tubes using the tip of a spatula of your compound. Remember to use a water bath to heat organic solvents. NEVER heat organic solvents directly on a hot plate-always use a hot water bath! Dry the product and obtain melting point range (one fast and one slow) and an IR spectrum. Be sure to record observations in your laboratory notebook.
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From “A Multistep Synthesis Incorporating a Green Bromination of an Aromatic Ring” J. Chem. Educ. 2012, 89, 1063
Prelab: In your lab