Org. Synth. 1925, 5, 27
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.005.0027
n-BUTYL CHLORIDE
[Butane, 1-chloro-]
Submitted by J. E. Copenhaver and A. M. Whaley.
Checked by R. L. Shriner and S. C. Kelton, Jr.
1. Procedure
In a 3-l. round-bottomed, short-necked flask, 1363 g. (10 moles) of anhydrous zinc chloride is dissolved in 864 cc. (10 moles) of concentrated hydrochloric acid, the flask being cooled to prevent loss of hydrogen chloride (Note 1). To this solution is added 371 g. (5 moles) of n-butyl alcohol. The flask is attached to a vertical, water-cooled reflux condenser (Note 2), the top of which carries a thermometer and a goose-neck tube connected with an efficient downward condenser. To the end of the downward condenser is attached a 1-l. Florence flask which is connected to a 250-cc. Erlenmeyer flask by a bent tube. A tube from the second receiving vessel is connected with a gas-absorption trap (Note 3) or to a funnel inverted over 800 cc. of 10 per cent sodium hydroxide solution in a 1-l. beaker. Rubber stoppers are used throughout. Both the receiving vessels are cooled in a large ice-salt bath.
The flask is heated by an oil bath to 150° (bath temperature), at which temperature the solution starts to boil and butyl chloride begins to distil. After a few moments, it is necessary to control the temperature in the reflux condenser at 75–80° by a very slow stream of water. The temperature of the oil bath is gradually raised to 155°, and one hour from the time of initial boiling practically all the butyl chloride has distilled. If necessary, however, heating at 155° may be continued for ten to fifteen minutes longer and the temperature of the bath then raised to 160–165°, the reflux temperature not being allowed to get above 80°. The distillate is washed with 100 cc. of cold water, 50 cc. of cold concentrated sulfuric acid (in four portions), 10 cc. of water, and finally with 25 cc. of 10 per cent sodium carbonate solution. It is dried over 10 g. of calcium chloride and distilled (Note 4) and (Note 5). The fraction boiling from 75.5° to 77.5° weighs 352–361 g. (76–78 per cent of the theoretical amount). (Note 6).
2. Notes
1.
The sticks of
zinc chloride are crushed before being mixed with the acid, and then the mixture is agitated with frequent cooling under the water tap. After the initial heat of solution is over (about five minutes), and there is no further tendency for the mixture to heat up, the flask is closed with a
rubber stopper which is wired on and the solution process completed by thirty minutes of mechanical shaking. If a few grams of
zinc chloride remain, they will dissolve soon after the beginning of the reaction.
2.
A
five-bulb Allihn condenser provides sufficient refluxing to insure separation of the
butyl chloride and the
alcohol. When the reflux temperature reaches 75°, a very slow stream of water is necessary to keep it within the desired range.
3.
The gas-absorption trap described on
p. 97 may be used.
4.
Distillation of the crude product was carried out through a
Carborundum-filled column about 1 in. in diameter and 18 in. long. The forerun and residue were both small but may be reduced still further by mixing, drying, and redistilling.
5.
The
zinc chloride may be recovered for future runs by removing the reflux condenser and connecting the reaction flask directly to the downward condenser and absorber. The oil bath is gradually raised to 250–260° and held at that temperature until the
zinc chloride begins to crystallize. Much time is saved in dissolving the
zinc chloride in the
hydrochloric acid for the next run if it is stirred while cooling. Seven runs have been made with the same
zinc chloride; the same or better yields being obtained each time regardless of the fact that the
zinc chloride changes to a light brown color.
6.
This method may be used to prepare other alkyl chlorides. The temperatures for
n-propyl and
sec.-butyl chlorides are, respectively, as follows: bath, 125–130° and 138–140°; reflux, 45–50° and 65–69°. Yields:
65–70 per cent and
85–88 per cent of the theoretical amounts.
3. Discussion
n-Butyl chloride can be prepared by the interaction of
n-butyl alcohol and
hydrochloric acid or
hydrogen chloride either with
1 or without a catalyst;
2 and from
n-butyl alcohol with
phosphorus pentachloride3 or
thionyl chloride.
3 The method described above is based on a recently published study.
4
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
alcohol (64-17-5)
calcium chloride (10043-52-4)
sulfuric acid (7664-93-9)
hydrogen chloride,
hydrochloric acid (7647-01-0)
sodium hydroxide (1310-73-2)
phosphorus pentachloride (10026-13-8)
thionyl chloride (7719-09-7)
sodium carbonate (497-19-8)
n-butyl alcohol (71-36-3)
Butane, 1-chloro-,
Butyl chloride,
n-BUTYL CHLORIDE (109-69-3)
zinc chloride (7646-85-7)
sec.-butyl chloride (78-86-4)
n-propyl chloride (540-54-5)
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