Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Catalyst needed

Eddygp - 18-11-2012 at 14:48

Does anyone know a good catalyst for this?
glucose + ethyl propionate = CO2 + H2O + EtOH + propanol

12AX7 - 18-11-2012 at 15:58

Idunno about the glucose --> CO2 + H2O part, but the ester can be cleaved in an excess of H2O with acid.

Tim

SM2 - 18-11-2012 at 18:45

what are you looking for, n-propanol? just take your ester and shake with strong aq. lye solution.

UnintentionalChaos - 18-11-2012 at 19:43

Quote: Originally posted by Fennel Ass Ih Tone  
what are you looking for, n-propanol? just take your ester and shake with strong aq. lye solution.


Read closer, that would make ethanol and propionic acid. The only things likely to get him N-propanol from that ester are LiAlH4, high-pressure catalytic hydrogenation, a Bouveault–Blanc reduction, or LiBEt3H.

Eddygp - 19-11-2012 at 09:07

Hmmm... I think I can't get any of those at the moment :(

Eddygp - 24-11-2012 at 05:04

So isn't this possible then?

Nicodem - 24-11-2012 at 09:02

Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp  
Does anyone know a good catalyst for this?
glucose + ethyl propionate = CO2 + H2O + EtOH + propanol

Quote:
So isn't this possible then?

How the hell should we know? You never posted the reference for that reaction!