In a preparation of a methyl phenyl ether from phenol and methyl iodide the crude product may contain unreacted phenol. how would you proceed to remove this?
1 Answer
Dec 2, 2017
Give it a wash with dilute sodium hydroxide...
Explanation:
Phenol is fairly acidic in that the phenoxide anion is reasonance-stabilized. A wash with dilute base should remove it from the organic phase, and confine it to the aqueous phase. The methyl phenyl ether will be confined to the organic phase...