[LondonBP]

Hi, i was wondering how you would separate a mixture of ibuprofen and propranolol using acid-base extraction. Am i right in saying that obviously the ibuprofen is the acid, but is the propranolol the base as it contains NH ?

What would the steps be in this situation? This is what i believe is the method:

Mixture of ibuprofen and propranolol.
Add CH2Cl2 and 5% NaOH
The H2O layer contains the carboxylic acid salt (ibuprofen salt)
6M HCl acid is added to this salt to produce a solid of ibuprofen.

As for the propranolol it will be contained in the CH2Cl2 layer.
Add 5% HCl.
In this H2O layer there will be a salt of propranolol.
Add 6M NaOH to this.
A solid of propranolol is formed.

Thanks in advance.

[stewie griffin]

Sounds good to me. And yes I would assume the propranolol is your base in this question since it has an amine functionality.