In: Chemistry
Vitride has the formula NaAlH2(OCH2CH2OCH3)2. it can be added to alkyl bromide / magnesium solutions to start a gringnard reaction. however it is a hydride source and is capable of adding to the c=o bonds in addition to reacting with water.
these questions pertain to an organic lab I did. we prepared an gringnard reaction of 0.05g (0.021 moles) Mg with 2.5mL (0.023 mol) of 1-bromobutane and 1.8mL(0.0197 moles) of 2-methylpropanal as the electrophilie.
1) As a preventative measure, you added 2 drops of the Vitride solution to your bromobenzene/Mg mixture when forming the Grignard reagent, but that your ethereal solution was completely dry (i.e. no water). That Vitride would reduce the 2-methylpropanal when it is added to the Grignard reagent.
What mass of reduced aldehyde would be formed after the workup of the reaction? HINT: Look carefully at the structure of Vitride.
2) Assuming Vitride reduced the aldehyde faster than the Grignard reagent, and also assuming the reduced aldehyde acted just like your desired product during the isolation of 2-methyl-3-heptanol, what is the mass percent of the reduced aldehyde in your product mixture?