Answer Happy

I HAVE TO DO AN EXPERIMENT, AND THIS IS ALL THE INFORMATION i
HAVE. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS MUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE
TO DO.
Synthesis of phenyl ethyl ether A solution of sodium ethoxide is prepared by dissolving small pieces of sodium (250 mmol) in absolute ethanol (75 mL). After all the sodium has dissolved, a solution of phenol (200 mmol) in a minimal amount of absolute ethanol is added to the reaction mixture. 1. The pKa of phenol is pKa = 9,95 and of ethanol pKa = 15,9. Why is this important for the reaction? n-ethyl bromide or n-ethyl chloride (220 mmol) and a pinch of potassium iodide are added to the reaction mixture and the whole is heated to reflux. 2. Is there a difference between using n-ethyl bromide or n-ethyl chloride? 3. What is the function of the potassium iodide? The progress of the reaction is followed by TLC, when the reaction is complete the reflux is stopped and the mixture allowed to cool. The solvent is removed from the mixture under reduced pressure yielding the crude product as a pale yellow oil. The crude product is poured into a aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (1 mol dm-3, 100 mL) and is extracted with diethyl ether (3 x50 mL). The organic fractions are washed with water (3 x50 mL), brine (3 50 mL), dried over calcium chloride, and the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. 4. What side reaction(s) could you expect and what by-product(s) can thus be formed? 5. 5. What is meant by the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. |