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Topic: benzocaine synthesis  (Read 19386 times)

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Offline jay1227

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benzocaine synthesis
« on: June 27, 2007, 09:10:05 PM »
we made benzocaine in lab with an acid-catalyzed synthesis, and a base was used to precipitate it out of the solution.
does the base neutralize the excess acid used in the synthesis, which makes the reaction favored to the right in making the benzocaine product?

Offline Mitch

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Re: benzocaine synthesis
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2007, 02:01:17 AM »
See #1 in the signature.
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Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: benzocaine synthesis
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2007, 03:54:04 PM »
Benzocaine is a base.  In acidic conditions, will it be charged or uncharged?  In basic conditions, will it be charged or uncharged?  What is the solubility of charged organic molecules in water?  What is the solubility of uncharged organic molecules in water?

Offline jay1227

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Re: benzocaine synthesis
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2007, 01:47:37 AM »
writing out the mechanism for the benzocaine synthesis, i only see that it is similar to an esterification reaction, and that there is an acid catalyst, but i dont see what adding a base can do to the benzocaine product to let it precipitate out of solution

if benzocaine is basic, then in acidic conditions it will have at least a +1 charge, and since charged organic molecules are more soluble in water, the benzocaine is dissolved or suspended in the water...adding the base removes this positive charge on benzocaine, making it less soluble?

Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: benzocaine synthesis
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2007, 03:02:07 AM »
if benzocaine is basic, then in acidic conditions it will have at least a +1 charge, and since charged organic molecules are more soluble in water, the benzocaine is dissolved or suspended in the water...adding the base removes this positive charge on benzocaine, making it less soluble?

Correct.

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