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Diisopropyl ether is a secondary ether that is used as a solvent. It is a colorless liquid that is slightly soluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. It is also used as an oxygenate gasoline additive. It is obtained industrially as a byproduct in the production of isopropanol by hydration of propylene.[3] Diisopropyl ether is sometimes represented by the abbreviation DIPE.

Use as a solvent

Whereas at 20 °C, diethyl ether will dissolve 1% by weight water, diisopropyl ether dissolves 0.88%. Diisopropyl ether is used as a specialized solvent to remove or extract polar organic compounds from aqueous solutions, e.g. phenols, ethanol, acetic acid.

In the laboratory, diisopropyl ether is useful for recrystallizations because it has a wide liquid range.[4][5] Diisopropyl ether is used for converting bromoboranes, which are thermally labile, into isopropoxy derivatives.[6]

Safety

Diisopropyl ether forms explosive organic peroxides similar to TATP upon standing in air. This reaction proceeds more easily than for diethyl ether due to the increased lability of the C-H bond adjacent to oxygen. Many explosions have been known to occur during handling of old diisopropyl ether bottles.[7] Some laboratory procedures recommend use of freshly opened bottles.[4] Antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene can be used to prevent this process. The stored solvent is generally tested for the presence of peroxides. It is recommended to test once every 3 months for diisopropyl ether compared to once every 12 months for diethyl ether.[8] Peroxides may be removed by stirring the ether with an aqueous solution of iron(II) sulfate (green vitriol) or sodium metabisulfite.[9][10] For safety reasons, methyl tert-butyl ether is often used as an alternative solvent.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. “#0362”. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ a b c “Isopropyl ether”. Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
  3. ^ Sakuth, Michael; Mensing, Thomas; Schuler, Joachim; Heitmann, Wilhelm; Strehlke, Günther; Mayer (2010). “Ethers, Aliphatic”. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a10_023.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
  4. ^ a b Andrea Goti; Francesca Cardona; Gianluca Soldaini (2005). “Methyltrioxorhenium Catalyzed Oxidation of Secondary Amines to Nitrones: N-Benzylidene-Benzylamine N-Oxide”. Organic Syntheses. 81: 204. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.081.0204.
  5. ^ Ferenc Merényi, Martin Nilsson (1972). “2-Acetyl-1,3-Cyclopentanedione”. Organic Syntheses. 52: 1. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.052.0001.
  6. ^ Shoji Hara, Akira Suzuk (1998). “Synthesis of 4-(2-Bromo-2-Propenyl)-4-Methyl-Y-Butyrolactone by the Reaction of Ethyl Levulinate with (2-Bromoallyl)Diisopropoxyborane Prepared by Haloboration of Allene”. Organic Syntheses. 75: 129. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.075.0129.
  7. ^ Matyáš, Robert; Pachman, Jiří. (2013). Primary explosives. Berlin: Springer. p. 272. ISBN 978-3-642-28436-6. OCLC 832350093.
  8. ^ “Organic Peroxides – Hazards : OSH Answers”. www.ccohs.ca. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Government of Canada.
  9. ^ Chai, Christina Li Lin; Armarego, W. L. F. (2003). Purification of laboratory chemicals. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-7506-7571-0.
  10. ^ Hamstead, A. C. (1964). “Destroying Peroxides of Isopropyl Ether”. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 56 (6): 37-42. doi:10.1021/ie50654a005.