Reaction #501855

Reaction equation

butane

2-methyl-1-pentanol

BuMgCl

magnesium

n-Butyl chloride

2-methyl-1-pentanol

Magnesium

iodine crystals

2-methyl-1-pentanol

butane

2-methyl-1-pentanol

chloride

→

2-methyl-1-pentyloxymagnesium chloride

Solvents

—

hydrocarbon

Isopar H

Isopar H

Conditions

Workup

1. 1
   OtherThe heating was cut off due to exothermic reaction
2. 2
   Temperaturereflux
3. 3
   OtherThe reaction of the slurry
4. 4
   Temperatureat reflux temperature
5. 5
   workup.ADDITIONThe reflux temperature during this period dropped to about 110° C
6. 6
   OtherAfter two hours of reaction
7. 7
   Temperatureheating
8. 8
   Otherwas released with exothermic reaction
9. 9
   workup.ADDITIONWhen the temperature dropped to about 50° C.
10. 10
    workup.ADDITIONThe reaction fluid containing some grayish particles
11. 11
    Temperaturewas heated slowly
12. 12
    Temperaturewith reflux
13. 13
    workup.DISTILLATIONThe reflux butane with some alkene, such as butene/octene, was distilled off through the reflux condenser
14. 14
    Temperatureto increase the reaction temperature
15. 15
    Otherclose to 145° C
16. 16
    Otherthe temperature two to three degrees
17. 17
    Temperaturereflux temperature (148° C.-150° C.)
18. 18
    workup.WAITThe reaction was continued at 145° C. for about 30 minutes
19. 19
    FiltrationThe reaction slurry was filtered while hot (90° C.-120° C.)
20. 20
    FiltrationThe filtration
21. 21
    workup.WAITcompleted in about ten minutes
22. 22
    Otherwere collected on the filter
23. 23
    Concentrationa 0.79 molar magnesium concentration with about 98% magnesium recovery

Procedure

Magnesium powder 6.65 gm, (0.273 moles) along with 225.0 ml Isopar "H" hydrocarbon solvent and 0.20 gm of iodine crystals were placed in a 3-necked reaction flask under an argon atmosphere. This mixture was heated under the argon atmosphere to 145° C. for about 60 minutes for metal activation. n-Butyl chloride (40 ml, 0.385 moles) was then gradually added to the reaction slurry in 30 minutes. The heating was cut off due to exothermic reaction and reflux. The reaction of the slurry was continued for about two hours at reflux temperature. The reflux temperature during this period dropped to about 110° C. The reflux solvent contained alkenes (i.e., butene/octene, etc.). After two hours of reaction, heating was cut off and then, the first 15 ml of 2-methyl-1-pentanol of a total of 60 ml was added drop by drop to the reaction slurry. On addition of this alcohol, butane was released with exothermic reaction and the slurry turned into a thick gum-like gel. When the temperature dropped to about 50° C., the remaining 45 ml of 2-methyl-1-pentanol, along with 50 ml of Isopar H solvent, was added quickly under good agitation to reduce the viscosity of the slurry. The 2-methyl-1-pentanol reacted with BuMgCl as was evidenced by the release of butane. The reaction fluid containing some grayish particles was heated slowly with reflux. The reflux butane with some alkene, such as butene/octene, was distilled off through the reflux condenser to increase the reaction temperature close to 145° C. It is important to keep the temperature two to three degrees lower than 2-methyl-1-pentanol's reflux temperature (148° C.-150° C.). The reaction was continued at 145° C. for about 30 minutes. The reaction slurry was filtered while hot (90° C.-120° C.). The filtration was fast and completed in about ten minutes. Final volume of the filtrate was about 340 ml. Fine gray suspended particles of solid were collected on the filter. The clear filtrate was analyzed and found to have a 0.79 molar magnesium concentration with about 98% magnesium recovery. The detailed analysis of the liquid product was found to be 0.79 moles magnesium, 0.50 moles 2MPO (as total base), 1.08 moles chloride per liter, along with solvent Isopar H and excess 2-methyl-1-pentanol. The product formula can be presented as

Source