ethers-intro

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This lab involved creating a procedure based on our knowledge of the Williamson ether synthesis and researching the mechanism for how various phenols (e.g. phenol, thymol, 4-tert-butyl phenol) react with chloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide to form their respective aryloxyacetic acids. Being that we have designed our own lab already (for the oxidation of alcohols), it was much easier for us to brainstorm an appropriate procedure for the synthesis of the aryloxyacetic acids based on the references cited and on what we have learned in class thus far. In order for our reaction to proceed, we had to determine the limiting reactant, and use this to determine the molar ratio of each reactant (NaOH, chloroacetic acid, and phenol).

The reaction will be refluxed and then the product will be precipitated with hydrochloric acid. Solvent extraction will be used to purify our product. NMR and IR samples will be run to determine if the products we obtain are pure.