shown below.

The system is quick and easy, and the two

solutions are stable.
The Solutions

SolutionA. 0.2 M anhvdrous boric acid and 0.05 M

citric acid monohydrate
Solution B. 0.1 M trisodium phosphate dodecahydate
(Na3PO4.l2Hz0)
'Carmody, W.R. J. Chem. Educ 1961,38,559.

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Publication Date: February 1, 1992 | doi: 10.1021/ed069pA43

Microscale Reactions of Vanillin

Rosemary G. Fowler
Coney College
Nevada, M 0 64772

Although many applications of organic chemistry are

based on complex molecules, few traditional or microscale
organic experiments use reactants with several functional
groups. In this paper we present five microscale experiments which allow first-year organic students to study the
properties and reactions of a multifunctional compoundvanillin, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde(1).These experiments incorporate common synthetic organic transformations involving aldehydes, phenols, and aromatics.
They include
reduction of the aldehyde group
oxidation of the aldehyde p u p
formation of a novel heterocyclic compound using a wndensation reaction
bromination of an ammatic ring
esterification of a phenol
The five reactions occur quickly. Most are complete
within 30 min. I n each case, physical or chemical properties of the reactant or product make it possible for the student to follow the progress of the reaction. Although the
methods and techniques presented in Mayo, Pike, and
Butcher's laboratory text (1)are used, these experiments
use simple glassware, common chemicals, and standard
microscale procedures. Therefore, one or more of these experiments can be easily incorporated into a first-year organic laboratory program.
Since good yields are obtained for the five products, sufficient material is available for spectral analysis of each
product. Comparison of the IR or 'H NMR spectra of vanillin to that of the product establishes the formation or disappearance of the functional groups involved in the transformation. Students can readily compare the reactivity
and selectivity of the four functional groups of vanillin toward several reagents. Procedures for the microscale preparation of five compounds (2-6) from vanillin (1)are described below.
Experimental
Reduction of Vanillin to Vanillyl Alcohol (2)

Dissolve 380 mg (2.5 mmol) of vanillin in 2.5 mL of 1M

NaOH solution in a 25-mL Erlenmeyer flask. Swirl the
flask to obtain a yellow, homogeneous solution. Cool the
contents of the flask to between 10-15 aC by swirling the
flask in an ice-water bath. Add 75 mg (1.95 mmol) of
NaBH4in three or four portions over a period of 3 min with
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the microscale laboratoru

constant swirling. Allow the solution to stand a t room
temperature for 30 min.
Then put the solution back in the ice-water hath, and
add 2.5 M HC1 dropwise while swirling until the solution
is distinctly acidic to litmus paper. Continue to cool the
flask, and gently scratch the wall of the flask with a glass
rod to induce crystallization. Filter the product using a
Hirsch funnel, and wash the flask and filter cake with
three 0.5-mL portions of cold water. Transfer the crude
product to a watch glass to air-dly.
Students typically collect 263 mg (68.3% yield) of crude
material with a melting point of 108-109 'C. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate yields fine, white crystals of
vanillyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol (21,
with a melting point of 113-114 'C (lit. mp 113-114 'C) (2).
Oxidation of Vanillin to Vanillic Acid (3)

Preparation of Silver Oxide

In a 5-mL conical vial cantaining a magnetic-spin vane,
dissolve 170 mg (1.0 mmol) of silver nitrate in 1.0 mL of
distilled water. Add 0.5 mL of 2.5 M NaOH dropwise fmm
a calibrated pipet to the stirred solution to precipitate silver oxide. Stir the mixture for 5 min using a small glass
rod.
Allow the sliver oxide to settle to the conical section of
thc vial.Thcn withdraw the aqueous layer with a Pasteur
pipet. Next, wash the silver bxide free of nitrates with
four 0.75-mL portions of water. Allow the silver oxide to
settle, and withdraw the aqueous layer with a Pasteur
pipet. Carefully withdraw the last traces of water from
the silver oxide on the last wash.
Preparation of Vanillic Acid
Add 2.5 mL of 2.5 M NaOH to the silver oxide precipitate. Stir with the magnetic-spin vane, and heat the reaction mixture to 55-60 'C (hot-water bath). Then add 152
mg (1mmol) of vanillin in three or four small portions.
Stir the reaction mixture a t 55-60 'C for 15 min. During
the course of the reaction, a silver mirror forms on the
wall of the vial, and then falls off. Then particles of silver
settle in the conical section of the vial.
Next, usea I'asteur pipet to tranjfer the yellow reaction
mixture to a 10-mL Erlenmeyer flitsk. Extract the metallic silver with four 0.75-m~-~ortions
of distilled water,
' and combine the extracts with the reaction mixture. Ifthe
reaction mixture contains any silver particles, use a Pasteur filter pipet to filter it. Isolate the product by adding
6 M HCI dropwise to the reaction mixture until the solution is acidic to litmus paper. Allow the reaction mixture to
stand a t room temperature for several min.
Then place the reaction mixture in an ice-water bath,
and scratch the wall of the flask to induce crystallization.
Filter the product using a Hirsch funnel, and wash the
flask and filter cake with three 0.5-mL portions of cold
water. Transfer the crude product to a watch glass to airdv.
Students typically collect 104 mg (61.9% yield) of crude
material with a melting point of 198-204 'C. Recrystallization from boiling water (0.1 g11.2 mL) yields 4-hydroxy-3methoxybenzoic acid (3),with a melting point of 210211 'C (lit. mp 210-211 'C) (3).
~

Condensation Reaction of Vanillin and Creatinine (4)

Place 240 mg (1.6 mmol) of vanillin and 113 mg (1.0

mmol) of creatinine in a 12 x 75-mm test tube, and mix the
two compounds intimately with a microspatula. Heat the

factions to produce the five compounds from vanillin

mixture while stirn'ng in a sand bath maintained a t 165170 'C for about 5-10 min. During this time, the mixture
melts, a vigorous reaction occurs, water is released, and
the orange-red condensation product solidifies.
Heat the contents for an additional 3 min to complete the
reaction. Next, allow the tube and contents to cool to room
temperature, and add 1.0 mL of ethanol. Warm and stir
the mixture to break up the solid and to form a suspension.
Wash any remaining product from the test tube onto the
filter with several 0.5-mL portions of ethanol. Wash the
solid on the filter with three 0.5-mL portions of hot water,
and transfer the solid to a watch glass to air-dry.
Students typically collect 200 mg (81% yield) of the orange-red condensation product with a melting point of
263-268 'C. Recrystallization from glacial acetic acid
yields 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzalkreatinine(4) with a
melting point of 271-273 'C (lit. mp 273 OC) (4).
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Bromination of Vanillin to 5-Bromovanillin (5)

Dissolve 228 mg (1.50 mmol) of vanillin in 3 mL of methanol and 3 mL of water in a 50-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
Under a fume hood, add several drops of bromine-water
reagent slowly with swirling until the reddish brown color
of bromine remains in the solution and no more product
forms. Cork the flask, and allow the reddish brown mixture to stand a t mom temperature for at least 10 min with
intermittent swirling to complete the reaction.
To isolate the product, add 15 mL of water to the reaction
mixture. Stir and cool the reaction mixture in an ice-water
bath for 15 min to maximize the product yield. Filter the
product using a Hirsch funnel, and wash it with three
1.0-mL portions of sodium thiosulfate to remove any unreacted bromine. Next, wash the crude product with three
0.5-mL portions of cold water. Dry the product partially by
drawing air through the crystals for several minutes. Then
transfer the product to a watch glass to air-dry.
Students typically collect 150 mg (43%yield) of the crude
5-bromovanillin, with a melting point of 163-164 T. Recrystallization from methanol-water yields 120 mg (35%
(5)
yield) of 5-bromo-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde
with a melting point of 163-164 'C (lit. mp 164 'C) (6).
Instructor Preparation of Aqueous Brominating Reagent

Under a fume hood, dissolve 8 g of KBr in 50 mL of water.

Add 6 g (2 mL)of bromine.

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Journal of Chemical Education

Esterification of Vanillin to Vanillyl Acetate (7)

Dissolve 304 mg (2.0 mmol) of vanillin in 5 mL of 10%

NaOH solution in a 50-mL Erlenmeyer flask. Add 6 g of
crushed ice and 0.866 g (0.8 mL) of acetic anhydride. Cork
the flask and shake the reaction mixture several times for
15 min. Filter the product using a Hirsch funnel, and wash
it with three l-mL portions of cold water.
Students typically collect 129 mg (33% yield) of crude
material with a melting point of 75-76 T. Recrystallization from ethanol-water (1:4) yields white crystals of
vanillyl acetate, 4-formyl-3-methoxyphenylacetate (6)
with a melting point of 78-78.5 T (lit. mp 77-79 'C) (6).
Acknowledgment
Support of this work by Cottey College and The Lillian
Corley Award is gratefully acknowledged. This experiment
is adapted from papers presented a t the 11th Biennial
Conference on Chemical Education, Atlanta, GA, 1990.
Literature Cited
1. Mayo, D. W.;Pike. R. M.; BuWler, 8.6.Mlcmsmlr Ogo- labomfory; Wiley: New
Ywk,1986.
2. A"lt,A. Techniqu48o"dE~pimnffor O~gonieChemrstry;Au,mandBern": B o b ,
1981;pp 137-l36.
3. Pearl, I. A. OlgonicSynthosis CoU, Val. IYRabjohn, N., Ed.: Wiley: NewYorL, 1963:
pp 972(173.
4. Dedoteu, V.: G u m m , T. J. Organic Syntkeah COIL,Val, III; Homing. E. C., Ed.:
Wiley: New York, 1955: pp 566589.
, ed.;D.C. Heath: Lexington,
5. Fieaer, L F.;Willismmn, K L. O ~ g o n i e E r p e r h f s4th
MA. 1979; p 3M.
6. Catalog ofthe Aldrieh Chemical Cmnpany: Milwaukee, 1988-1989; pp 256,1535.
7. voeei. A. I. Terl Book of Pmcfiml Ormnie Chamishv. 3rd ed.; langman: London,