In: Chemistry
what is the chemical equation for the formation of eugenol from DCM and anyhydrous sodium sulfate?
Since the experiment involves the extraction of natural product, there is no such chemical equation whuch can be formulated. The procedure of the extraction is summarised briefly:
Eugenol is a natural product which is the major part of the clove leaf oil and is extracted by steam distillation process. In the process, crushed cloves are mixed in water in a round bottom flask and the distillatio apparatus is set up. The distillation is carried on and once the extract has been formed, it is taken out and mixed with dichloromethane (DMC) and transferred to the separating funnel which is allowed to stand so as to form the two layers. The organic layer, lower one, containing the Dichloromethane is taken in a beaker and dried with little amount of sodium sulfate (anhydrous). Then the dichrolomethane is evaporated in a water bath leaving behind the eugenol in the beaker.
The structure of eugenol is shown below: