Formation of Isoamyl Acetate - Lab Report Example

Your Module Formation of Isoamyl Acetate The purpose of the experiment is to conduct a condensation reaction between isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid to obtain isoamyl acetate. According to the procedure description, acetic anhydride was used to obtain the required ester: Figure 1: Synthesis of isoamyl acetate (Clayden, et al., 310). A 50 ml. round bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer was charged with acetic anhydride (6 ml, 6.49 g, 0.064 mol.) and isoamyl alcohol (5 ml, 4.05 g, 0.046 mol).

The mixture was stirred for 2 minutes after which a catalytic amount of sulphuric acid was added. The reactive mixture was refluxed for 15 minutes under vigorous stirring. During reflux a colour change from colourless to slight yellow was observed. After 15 minute reflux the mixture was allowed to cool and 1M sodium hydroxide solution was used for the neutralisation. Strong banana smell was detected. To the obtained solution a portion of diethyl ether was added. As two layers formed, sparatory funnel was used to remove the diethyl ether layer.

Extraction was conducted several times after which all the produced diethyl ether layers were combined, dried and heated until all diethyl layer evaporated. The described manipulations afforded 1.52 g. of isoamyl ester (25.42%). It is expected that the boiling point of isoamyl acetate will be 1420C, however this temperature will be lower of traces of diethyl ether remained. Regarding IR results, it is expected that there will be no signals in the region 3000-4000 cm-1. If there are then traces of acetic acid or alcohol remained in the product.

Also, characteristic signals in the region 1500-2000 cm-1 should point out to the presence of C=O group. The fingerprint region should be compared with the isoamyl acetate spectrum from the database (Clayden, et al., 67). In conclusion, it will be possible to prove the formation of the desired product by carrying out proton and carbon NMR, IR and mass spectrometry.Works citedClayden, Jonathan, Greeves, Nick, Warren, Stuard, and Peter Wothers, Organic chemistry. Shanghai: C&C Offset Printing Co., Ltd., 2001. Print.