1-Hydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene.
- Prepare an ethereal solution of ethylmagnesium iodide from 1.8g (0.075 mol) of magnesium, 10.6g (4.7 ml, 0.075 mol) of methyl iodide and 30 ml of ether in a 100-ml two-necked flask fitted with a dropping funnel and a reflux condenser protected by a calcium chloride guard-tube.
- Slowly add a solution of 7.3g (0.05 mol) of a-tetralone in 10 ml of ether, swirling the contents of the flask from time to time, and finally heat under reflux on a steam bath for 1 hour to complete the reaction.
- Cool in ice, and decompose the reaction mixture with a cold saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride.
- Separate the ether layer, and extract the aqueous phase with 10 ml of ether.
- Wash the combined ethereal solutions with aqueous ammonium chloride solution, dry over anhydrous sodium sulphate and evaporate off the ether.
- A solid residue of 1 -hydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene of sufficient purity for use in the next stage is obtained; the yield is 7.5g (92%), m.p. 77-79 °C.
- Recrystallise a sample from light petroleum (b.p. 60-80 °C); the purified material has m.p. 86-87 °C.
1-Methylnaphthalene:
- This preparation illustrates the general procedure for catalytic dehydrogenation.
- The apparatus used is shown in Figure 1.
- Heat a mixture of 3.2g (0.02 mol) of the above hydroaromatic compound with 0.3g of palladised charcoal at 250-270 °C in a slow current of dry carbon dioxide in a Silicone oil or fusible metal bath for 3 hours (1).
- Cool, dissolve the residue in ether and filter off the catalyst.
- Wash the extract with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide and dry it over anhydrous sodium sulphate.
- Remove the ether and distil the residual oil under reduced pressure; use a small-scale distillation apparatus.
- Collect the 1-methylnaphthalene, b.p. 121-123 °C/20 mmHg. The yield is 2.5g (89%).
Notes to Keep in Mind:
1. If it is desired to follow the progress of the
dehydrogenation, attach the side-tube through a U-tube packed with
self-indicating soda-lime to a nitrometer filled with potassium hydroxide
solution: almost the theoretical quantity of hydrogen will be collected.