Hi,

 

I was wondering if there was a cheap way to make 1-propanol from isopropyl alcohol, since IPA is so cheaply available? I'm making a catalyst and I need a primary alcohol and 1-propanol has the best properties for my procedure.

 

 

Thanks a bunch for any help!

maybe...

isopropyl alcohol --c.sulfuric acid--> propylene --HBr--peroxide--> 1-bromopropane--hydroxide--> 1-propanol

Another way would be to treat isopropanol with conc sulphuric to get propene...and then perform a hydroboration reaction with a basic peroxide workup

There is no easy way to do the conversion between the two. Since intermediates involving a carbocation are more stable for a secondary position than the primary position of n-propanol, interconversion is not favored.

 

Reagents that generate a primary alcohol are quite expensive. You're better off seeking out some commercially available source.