[orgogenius]

so what is the solution to this, because i am still trying to figure this out also what movies inspire this story?

[Squirmy]

You don't need as strong an acid as HBr to form the carboxylic acid from the carboxyl Grignard, water would be just as good.

Water (pKa 15.7) is not a strong enough acid...it would just form an aqueous solution of the carboxylate. An acid that's stronger than the carboxylic acid (pKa ~4-5) is needed.

robvba's use of HBr & water would work, though.

[robvba]

Here is the correct mechinism

1. 1-butanol + HBr + :delta: R-Br + H2O
2. R-Br + Mg + THF + :delta: R-MgBr
3. R-MgBr + CO₂ R-COO^{- +}MgBr
4. R-COO^{- +}MgBr + HBr + H₂O R-COOH + Mg⁺² + Br₂ + H₂O

[lutesium]

But how can we find CO2? Is dry ice also available?

You don't need as strong an acid as HBr to form the carboxylic acid from the carboxyl Grignard, water would be just as good.

Water (pKa 15.7) is not a strong enough acid...it would just form an aqueous solution of the carboxylate. An acid that's stronger than the carboxylic acid (pKa ~4-5) is needed.

robvba's use of HBr & water would work, though.

If this statement is true then the humidity won't affect the product! But getting the enough CO2 from the air should also very hard and time consuming! Better solution is taking deep breaths and puffing over the product but as Valeric Acid forms it would be difficult to continue because of the unpleasant odor. Or if NaHCO3 is also available you can generate CO2 from him and an Acid!!!

Good luck


Lutesium...

[robvba]

But how can we find CO2? Is dry ice also available?

You don't need as strong an acid as HBr to form the carboxylic acid from the carboxyl Grignard, water would be just as good.

Water (pKa 15.7) is not a strong enough acid...it would just form an aqueous solution of the carboxylate. An acid that's stronger than the carboxylic acid (pKa ~4-5) is needed.

robvba's use of HBr & water would work, though.

If this statement is true then the humidity won't affect the product! But getting the enough CO2 from the air should also very hard and time consuming! Better solution is taking deep breaths and puffing over the product but as Valeric Acid forms it would be difficult to continue because of the unpleasant odor. Or if NaHCO3 is also available you can generate CO2 from him and an Acid!!!

Good luck


Lutesium...

i was thinking about taking deep breaths and holding them for as long as possible before exhaling through a long straw so that you can avoid the odor directly

[macman104]

Oh my, CO₂ is in the air.  It says you have anything available in the air.  I can't believe this is still being debated, lol.

[Squirmy]

Well, I'll just continue it just a little further

If this statement is true then the humidity won't affect the product!

Humidity will affect the yield of product, but not because water reacts with the carboxylate formed.