Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to synthesize Isopentyl Acetate using a Fischer esterification reaction. Fischer esterification is an acid-catalyzed condensation of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, yielding an ester and water. Isopentyl Acetate has the scent of banana oil, once synthesized it will be purified by distillation. Then the analysis of the sample using H NMR and IR will determine purity of the product.
Reaction Scheme:
Mechanism: Fischer esterification is the acid catalyzed condensation of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, where it is protonated at the carbonyl oxygen, then the nucleophillic attack of the alcohol. The proton …show more content…
Approximately ten minutes into the reflux period a condensation reflux ring was visible near the top of the round-bottom flask and then progressed up the approximately one-third of the condenser column length approximately twenty minutes into the reflux. Thirty minutes into the reflux, the mixture changed to a dark purple color while it bubbled and boiled. This color remained through the extractions but was left in the boiling flask during distillation. Reflux continued for a total of 60 minutes after the reflux ring formed and took approximately ten minutes to cool down to room temperature. Then the room temperature mixture was prepared for extraction with 10mL of water but discovered to be still very acidic after one wash. To reach a neutral pH, it took three washes with Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to remove any excess acetic acid and catalytic sulfuric acid. During distillation, the first drop was observed at 135 C and stopped at approximately 139 C when the distilling flask approached dryness. The final product was clear and colorless with a strong scent of bananas. The mass of the product was a 4.42g