Sciencemadness Discussion Board

New hotplate stirrer + ester synthesis questions

organometallic - 26-7-2007 at 11:37

What do you guys think of my new http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200128552925&rd=1&rd=1? Does anyone know the make/model, does anyone have a similar one?

Also, has anyone here any practical experience of benzyl acetate synthesis by condensation of glacial acetic acid and benzyl alcohol? What yeilds did you get, and how did you go about purifying your product?
Plus, does anyone know whether triesters (as i believe they are called) of citric acid, such as butyl citrate, octyl citrate, have a pleasent scent? I read that short chain (<3 carbon) alcohols do not produce scented compounds when condensed with citric acid.

[Edited on 27-7-2007 by organometallic]