Multiple Synthesis Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Multiple Synthesis - Lab Report Example The Biltz’s process of synthesizing phenytoin involves several steps, with each step forming a product that will be used in the next step. The process starts with the synthesis of benzil from benzoin, which then undergoes condensation catalysis by a base with urea. The multistep synthesis of various natural products, most of which are used as medicine, is necessary because of the lack of naturally occurring starting materials, and also because of the reason that multistep synthesis allows for the modification of various functional groups in the medicine, thus improving efficiency. 1.3 grams of thiamine hydrochloride were dissolved in 4.0 mL of distilled water in a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask. 1.5 mL of 95% ethanol was added to the flask and the mixture cooled in an ice water bath. 2.5 mL of 3.0M sodium hydroxide was added dropwise to the solution while swirling. The temperature of the reaction system was maintained at below 20⠁ °C. While swirling the flask, 7.5 mL of benzaldehyde was added to the flask and the mixture heated in a water bath at 50⠁ °C for ten minutes. The flask was labeled and covered with a Parafilm ® and then placed in a fume hood for one week. The inside of the flask was gently scratched with a glass stir rod to induce crystallization. Since no crystals formed, the stir rod was dipped into the liquid and removed, and then allowed to dry in air. The flask was placed in a water bath with a temperature of 60⠁ °C to evaporate off some ethanol and then cooled in an ice bath. The color of the solution was noted down. 4.00 grams of the benzoin provided were added to a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The mixture was heated in a water bath in a fume hood until the mixture stopped producing brown-colored gas. The flask was then removed from the water bath and then 75.0 mL of distilled water added to the mixture. The mixture