chemrox
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Melzer's reagent & chloral
I want Melzer's reagent for mushroom ID. I don't have chloral hydrate (chloral) and from what I've read here, it's a real time consuming pain in the
rear to make. I searched Google for Melzer's and found a site in Britain for members only. I'm still trying to find Melzer's reagent rather than
make it although chloral is sometimes used separately in mycology too but not very often.
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Sauron
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Get or make trichloroacetic acid.
Reduce it to trichloroacetaldehyde. There are reducing agents that stop at the aldehyde stage.
Trichloroacetaldehyde is chloral.
This is a lot less of a pain then chlorinating ethanol or acetaldehyde, but, I don't think those are particularly onerous, as chlorinations go. You
don't need a whole lot of product, I take it?
100 g? 200 g?
Didn't I post a review on chloral chemistry not long ago?
The chlorination of ethanol proceeds stepwise, first oxidation to acetaldehyde, starting at 0 C. Then first, second and third chlorines added, with
temerature progressing from RT to about 100 C. With a decent Cl2 generator and temp control should not be too much bother.
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chemrox
International Hazard
Posts: 2961
Registered: 18-1-2007
Location: UTM
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Mood: LaGrangian
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I didn't find your review .. I'll look for it. You've been a consistently reliable source and no, I don't need much .. I daresay 100 g would last
quite a few years if not a lifetime. I'm not inducting sailors into the British Navy... ;^)
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