[elementcollector1]

I'd like to know if anyone can point me towards a good source of these pure chemicals:

tetrahydronapthalene
tertiary amyl alcohol (2-methyl 2-butanol) OR tertiary butanol (2-methyl 2 propanol)

Thanks in advance!

[pippo]

elementcollector1, on 17 January 2012 - 04:34 AM, said:

I'd like to know if anyone can point me towards a good source of these pure chemicals:

tetrahydronapthalene
tertiary amyl alcohol (2-methyl 2-butanol) OR tertiary butanol (2-methyl 2 propanol)

Thanks in advance!

Are you in the Dairy Lab /testing/milk fat business? Try The chemical superpower Sigma-Aldrich- if theyll sell to yyou.

[elementcollector1]

On Sigma-Aldrich, the lowest price for the napthalene is $26.80 and t-butanol goes for twice that, t-amyl alcohol not far behind. Not my favorite pricing, but then again, is this 'analytical standard (Fluka)' worth checking out? It's plenty cheap, something like $18. Which leads me to doubt the purity or amount sold.
Still, many thanks for finding at least a possible source of these, even though it's Sigma-Aldrich.

[pippo]

elementcollector1, on 19 January 2012 - 02:34 AM, said:

On Sigma-Aldrich, the lowest price for the napthalene is $26.80 and t-butanol goes for twice that, t-amyl alcohol not far behind. Not my favorite pricing, but then again, is this 'analytical standard (Fluka)' worth checking out? It's plenty cheap, something like $18. Which leads me to doubt the purity or amount sold.
Still, many thanks for finding at least a possible source of these, even though it's Sigma-Aldrich.

Well, you just need to determine what grade you need, right? I mean , you mention a concern for the purity. What purity do you need? Its one thing to ask for a higher purity its another to know what % purity you threshold is. If all you need is 99+ why pay more for 99.9, get it?

I work all day with 99.999% stuff, then for another order, 99.0-99.5 is perfectly fine!! Its all about the application and knowing the end user's needs. Good luck, man.

[elementcollector1]

Well, first, I don't know what an 'analytical standard' is. It could be a diluted solution in water, for all I know.
As for my purity threshold, I'd like it to be on the low end at least 90% plus (which is in consideration quite low).
Does S-A sell to individuals?

[John Cuthber]

If Fluka are selling it as analytical standard it's least as good as you need.

[elementcollector1]

Well, that's good news. So, about ordering: Does Sigma-Aldrich sell to individuals? If so, does anyone know shipping charges?

EDIT: Total Price for 2 items: $44.60 + shipping
Sigh...

This post has been edited by elementcollector1: 21 January 2012 - 01:34 AM

[elementcollector1]

Never mind about the tetralin, I figured out how to make some from a guy who's done this before.

"There is also a published synth using sodium in ethanol to reduce naphthalene to tetralin and then on to decalin. I've actually run this reaction, and yields are a lot higher using a neutral (decane) hydrocarbon with naphthalene dissolved in it, adding sodium, and reducing with ethanol."


Now to find some old mothballs, or something...


And also figure out a synthesis of t-butanol.

This post has been edited by elementcollector1: 21 January 2012 - 06:12 AM

[pippo]

Sorry, maybe late reply- been busy. SA may not sell to personal/individuals. If you have a lab, yes. But, still, they will put you through the ringer first (at least, thats what I understood recently)

[elementcollector1]

Aw... darn. Any other places for t-butanol or t-amyl alcohols?

[Suxamethonium]

To be completely honest, synthesis is easy enough in theory, but in practise it involves synthesis, collection and reaction of mostly gaseous components for such small molecules. I feel the best way would be to find a cheap comercial product that is a t-butyl alcoholic ester, and then just hydrolyse. You also get a second compound which could be useful later. Otherwise you ar probably in for tedious practical methodology.

[John Cuthber]

how easy is it to get and hydrolyse mtbe?
http://en.wikipedia....ert-butyl_ether

[Suxamethonium]

Can't seem to get it easily in australia, but thats the same for a lot of chems. As for the hydrolysis it would probably be harder to seperate the two products (both alcohols) but with a fractionating column it wouldn't be too bad.

[elementcollector1]

Darn. I found on Wiki that t-butanol is used sometimes as an octane booster, would anyone be able to give me a brand that does contain t-butanol?

[Suxamethonium]

No idea. Petrol contains a lot of things though- no doubt a small percentage is tBuOH. But there's got to be an easier way... You could probably react methyl lithium or methyl magnesium bromide with acetone, then acid work up. Its just a bit tedious and expensive for something that you would probably want in solvent quantities (i.e. 100s of grams).

[elementcollector1]

Suxamethonium, on 8 February 2012 - 01:41 AM, said:

No idea. Petrol contains a lot of things though- no doubt a small percentage is tBuOH. But there's got to be an easier way... You could probably react methyl lithium or methyl magnesium bromide with acetone, then acid work up. Its just a bit tedious and expensive for something that you would probably want in solvent quantities (i.e. 100s of grams).

Never mind the t-butanol, a guy just PM'd me with a brand that's about half. Yay!

Back to the tetralin synthesis, to wrap up the details.

"There is also a published synth using sodium in ethanol to reduce naphthalene to tetralin and then on to decalin. I've actually run this reaction, and yields are a lot higher using a neutral (decane) hydrocarbon with naphthalene dissolved in it, adding sodium, and reducing with ethanol."


It says to use decane in the synthesis, but I have no idea where to find that. Would propane work?
And what do they mean by sodium? Surely not elemental sodium.
As for ethanol, I can use rubbing alcohol (70%) for that. Although it might be better to get a pure sample of the stuff.