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!

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).

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

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.

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.