Dibutyl ether

Dibutyl ether is an ether that is used for complex grignard reactions where higher temperatures are needed. Dibutyl ether is good for reacting benzyl magnesium chloride (made from benzyl chloride and magnesium turnings in dibutyl ether) with acetonitrile in dibutyl ether at elevated temperatures. Then reacting it with hydrochloric acid to get Phenyl-2-Propanone. Dibutyl ether increases the yield compared to diethyl ether. Dibutyl ether is produced by reacting butanol with sulfuric acid. The temperature cannot be too high, as butanol could dehydrate into butene (1-butene). The ether must be stored with butylated hydroxytoluene as explosive peroxides can form.
Properties
Chemical formula
C8H18O
Molar mass
130.231 g/mol
Appearance
Colorless liquid
Odor
Fruity
Density
0.77 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point
−95 °C (−139 °F; 178 K)
Boiling point
141 °C (286 °F; 414 K)

I reacted benzyl magnesium chloride with acetonitrile in dibutyl ether and hydrolyzed it with hydrochloric acid to get Phenyl-2-Propanone.

by CognitiveFuel January 16, 2023