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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Organic Chemistry Forum for Graduate Students and Professionals => Topic started by: Krkann on September 30, 2019, 07:29:47 AM

Title: Extraction modification
Post by: Krkann on September 30, 2019, 07:29:47 AM
I'm trying to modify a published derivatization procedure by using a different derivatization reagent. LogP of the derivative in the publication is approx 4.07. LogP of my derivative is much lower, around 2.05. In the published procedure, a mixture of pentane-ether (1:3) was used to extract the compound from aqueous phase (both original and my derivatization is done in water).

Which extraction solvent or a mixture might be a good substitute for pentane-ether, given that my product has lower logP? The initial reaction mixture is always aqueous. Many thanks!
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: pgk on September 30, 2019, 11:19:21 AM
Roughly, logP = 4 means that per 10,000 molecules in the organic solvent, 1 molecule is in an equal volume of water. In contrast, logP = 2 means that per 100 molecules in the organic solvent, 1 molecule is in an equal volume of water.
In other words, if you extract with the same solvent system in equal volumes, you lose 1% of your product after one exctraction; if you extract with the same solvent system at 2/1 v/v-o/w ratio, you lose 0.5%; if you extract with the same solvent system at 4/1 v/v-o/w ratio, you lose 0.25% and so on…, which cannot be considered as high losses, especially after a couple of repeated extractions that is the common practice.
But the selection of the extraction solvent, also depends on the compatibility with the structure of the new derivatization agent, e.g. if containing a longer alkyl chain, hexane/ ether is preferred; if containing aromatic rings, extractions with toluene are preferred; if containing hydroxyl, methoxy, halide, etc. substituents, dichloromethane might be preferred, and so on...
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: Krkann on October 01, 2019, 01:42:39 AM
v/v-o/w ratio

Can you explain the abbreviations?

Thanks for the previous answer.
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: Babcock_Hall on October 01, 2019, 10:41:55 AM
What about doing a second extraction with the same solvent?  You could keep the two organic layers separate, and quantify how much material is in the second layer.
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: pgk on October 01, 2019, 12:33:08 PM
I apologize for the incomprehensive abbreviations.
v/v-o/w means: volume per volume of organic solvent/water layers.
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: pgk on October 01, 2019, 12:34:07 PM
Besides and apart the partition coefficient theory, starting materials, side products and other impurities are distributed in both phases during extractive purification, which change the solubility parameters of the solvent. But the most of water soluble impurities will be removed by the first extraction, which increases the solubility capacity of the solvent and leads to a higher overall extraction yield.
Title: Re: Extraction modification
Post by: rolnor on October 02, 2019, 01:20:09 AM
Pure ether could be a start, then EtOAc if you need more polar. DCM is also very efficient in many cases.