BlazeBall
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Trichloroacetic acid synthesis?
Are there any syntheses of this chemical that can be performed on a home lab scale? TCA is a chemical used as a cosmetic treatment but it's very
expensive to buy, approx £1 per ml!
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garage chemist
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Oxidation of chloral hydrate with nitric acid is the classic textbook method.
Now, chloral hydrate is a prep that takes weeks to perform properly, though... I've done it several times making a more or less pure product, and
there is always a certain amount of "alchemy" to it as you never know, and can't really imagine, what the reaction mixture is actually comprised of.
Only after workup does one obtain a defined product.
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BlazeBall
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Thanks. Is it possible to buy chloral hydrate from a reagent supplier? I see websites offering ~50% chloral hydrate in the form of Melzer's reagent,
but no places offering it in pure form.
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bbartlog
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It's a schedule IV drug, so you'd need a prescription to get it in pure form.
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BlazeBall
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Chloral hydrate isn't a scheduled drug in the UK though.
Would it be easier to purify the aforementioned reagent or synthesize chloral myself?
[Edited on 11-12-2010 by BlazeBall]
[Edited on 11-12-2010 by BlazeBall]
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DJF90
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You might as well try to make it. It could be a rewarding experience. I have seen it for sale previously but it was extortionate and I'm not sure if
its still offered.
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ScienceSquirrel
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Mood: Dogs are pets but cats are little furry humans with four feet and self determination! 
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I think you will find it easier to buy trichloroacetic acid rather than chloral hydrate.
TCA is a bit watched as it has turned up in alternative therapies whereas chloral hydrate is definitely watched.
Chemical companies want legitimate chemical users as customers. The straighter and more legitimate you seem the more willing they are to do business
with you.
The last thing they want is a client making bombs or drugs from the chemicals that they have supplied.
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BlazeBall
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I have been buying TCA from ebay but it's very expensive which is why I wanted to synthesize it.
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