Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Separating benzaldehyde from benzyl alcohol

phendrol - 1-9-2012 at 00:07

Hi!

I've prepared some benzaldehyde from benzyl alcohol with calcium hypochlorite. Unfortunately my condenser has been broken and I can't use my distillation setup.

Does anyone have an idea how to separate what's left of benzyl alcohol from the aldehyde other than distillation?

kristofvagyok - 1-9-2012 at 02:35

Quote: Originally posted by phendrol  
Does anyone have an idea how to separate what's left of benzyl alcohol from the aldehyde other than distillation?


The BzCHO forms an adduct with bisulfites what crystallizes easily and could be turned back to the aldehyde by bicarbonate or any other basic reagent.