[00rich]

I want to setup a simple reflux reaction where I need to heat a RBF to ~180 degrees celcius. What is the safest/most efficient way to do this? Silicone oil can't go hot enough to be used in a double boiler type setup. Would a double boiler setup with sand be a good method?

Thanks for the help!

[hypervalent_iodine]

Personally, I would go with the sand route. You should also be fine if you use a hard-hydrogenated oil like cottonseed. That being said, I would have thought that silicone oil would work alright. I had a look at Vogel, which said that a silicone bath can be heated up to 250^oC; 180^oC shouldn't be too much of an issue so long as you keep an eye on the temperature (i.e. keep either an internal or external thermometer).

[00rich]

Would you go with the sand because it is safer to work with than a beaker full of very hot oil?

[mississippichem]

Sand is safer but go ahead and start heating it now if you want to do this reaction anytime soon. It takes much longer to heat up.

[hypervalent_iodine]

It's safer and it also precludes the possibility of dropping an open reaction vessel into the oil bath, which I can assure you is not fun to have to deal with.