Org. Synth. 1938, 18, 17
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.018.0017
α,β-DIBROMOSUCCINIC ACID
[Succinic acid, α,β-dibromo-]
Submitted by Herbert S. Rhinesmith
Checked by Reynold C. Fuson and W. E. Ross.
1. Procedure
In a
2-l. three-necked, round-bottomed flask, equipped with a
mechanical stirrer (Note 1),
dropping funnel, and
Friedrichs condenser1 (Note 2), are placed
200 g. (1.7 moles) of fumaric acid (Note 3) and 400 g. of water
(Note 4). The materials are thoroughly mixed until the
fumaric acid has been completely wet by the water. The resulting thick, viscous mass is then stirred vigorously
(Note 5) and brought to boiling by heating on a
wire gauze with a Bunsen flame
(Note 6).
Two hundred and seventy-six grams (94.3 cc., 1.7 moles) of bromine (Note 7) is now added as rapidly as possible through the dropping funnel, the rate of addition being so controlled that the Friedrichs condenser is continuously about half full of the refluxing liquid (Note 8). This operation takes about one hour (Note 9). After about 100 g. of bromine has been added, the dibromosuccinic acid forms rapidly and separates in tiny white needles. At the completion of the reaction there should be a slight excess of bromine, as indicated by the red color of the solution. Occasionally 5–10 g. of bromine has to be added at this point to ensure an excess.
The reaction flask is now surrounded with ice water and cooled to 10°, with stirring. The product is then collected on a large Büchner funnel, and washed with cold water to remove the bromine liquor. The filtrate may be discarded, as it contains only impurities. The material is dried overnight at room temperature and need not be recrystallized; the yield is 343–400 g. (72–84 per cent of the theoretical amount).
2. Notes
1.
A heavy stirrer with as large a paddle as possible is used, in order to rotate the mass of crystals formed during the course of the reaction. A
mercury seal is unnecessary, but it is advisable to have the stirrer bearing extend beneath the surface of the liquid.
2.
Glass connections or
rubber stoppers should be used throughout, as
corks are rapidly disintegrated by the hot
bromine.
3.
Commercial
fumaric acid ("practical") is sufficiently pure for this preparation. Directions for preparing
fumaric acid are given on
p. 302.
4.
Any larger amount of water leads to the formation of
monobromomalic acid,
tartaric acid, and compounds of unknown composition.
25.
Vigorous stirring is essential to obtain good yields.
6.
It is necessary to keep the reaction mixture boiling throughout the entire course of the reaction. During the addition of the
bromine, however, the size of the flame should be reduced considerably, because the reaction is exothermic.
7.
The apparatus should be set up under a
hood, or the top of the condenser connected to a
gas absorption trap for the removal of
bromine vapor, small amounts of which escape continually under the conditions of the experiment.
8.
By this procedure most of the unchanged
bromine is washed back into the flask, so that the amount escaping from the top of the condenser is kept at a minimum.
9.
If the
bromine is added over a much longer period of time, the yield is materially decreased.
3. Discussion
α,β-Dibromosuccinic acid may be prepared by heating
succinic acid with
bromine and water in a closed tube at 180°;
3 by heating
succinic acid,
red phosphorus, and
bromine in a closed tube at 140°;
4 by heating
fumaric acid with
2 moles of bromine in
acetic acid for seven hours in a
sealed tube at 100°;
5 from
fumaric acid,
bromine, and water at 100° under pressure;
6 and by the method described above.
This preparation is referenced from:
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
red phosphorus
acetic acid (64-19-7)
bromine (7726-95-6)
Succinic acid (110-15-6)
tartaric acid (87-69-4)
Fumaric acid (110-17-8)
α,β-Dibromosuccinic acid,
Succinic acid, α,β-dibromo- (526-78-3)
dibromosuccinic acid
monobromomalic acid
Copyright © 1921-, Organic Syntheses, Inc. All Rights Reserved