Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Acetone harmful to the production of [(iPrO)3Al]?

yang - 20-10-2009 at 01:03

It is well known that aluminum tri-isopropoxide [(iPrO)3Al]can be obtained by reacting aluminum powder with isopropanol. However, the yield of such reaction is found to heavily decrease when >0.1% acetone is present in isopropanol.

Is there any scientific explanation for this unfavorable result?

Picric-A - 20-10-2009 at 01:47

Can you provide references stating this decrease in yield?
I see no reason why propanone would interfere with the reaction other than the propanone being reduced by the isopropoxide formed howver if >0.1% amounts are present then tis should be insugnificant?

yang - 20-10-2009 at 19:41

Fine. Thank you for your kind reply.

The phenomenon mentioned above was first detected by a technician on duty. Then we found that there are no reported documents that can exactly support this point. I wonder whether it is some other factors that cause the drop of yield, although the technician still sticks to his judgment.

UnintentionalChaos - 20-10-2009 at 20:52

Quote: Originally posted by Picric-A  
Can you provide references stating this decrease in yield?
I see no reason why propanone would interfere with the reaction other than the propanone being reduced by the isopropoxide formed howver if >0.1% amounts are present then tis should be insugnificant?


That would be the meerwin-pondorf-verley reduction...and the products would be isopropanol and acetone. Mechanistically, this should have absolutely no effect on the production of isopropoxide. Is there an activator being used to get the aluminum to react that might be effected by having acetone around?