Hey, with the sulfuric acid + ethanol = ether reaction, could I use denatured alcohol instead of pure ethanol? As long as it yields nothing toxic/carcinogenic you could use a bit of methanol, couldn't you?

Sorry about being a novice to organic chemistry. At least I think it's organic chemistry.

I'd say it would result in dimethyl ether..... just buy some everclear and dry it on dehydrated salts man. Not worth risking fucking with dimethyl ether and shit. Or if you did use denatured you could keep the ether in the fridge and the DME would evaporate off...

I'd say it would result in dimethyl ether..... just buy some everclear and dry it on dehydrated salts man. Not worth risking fucking with dimethyl ether and shit. Or if you did use denatured you could keep the ether in the fridge and the DME would evaporate off...

Hmm. It appears fortunately dimethyl ether has a boiling point of −23 °C so as long as I let it air away from a flame, I should be fine?

Also, I can't get everclear here.

Heat has it right. And to answer your second question, IS IT REALLY WORTH THE BUZZ?



Seriously, respect your body more than that kid, or you won't live to see 20.

Get Vodka (or go to a pharmacy and ask for "injection alcohol or whatever you OZ call it) its 90% EtOH. Distill it with a long fractionating column and slowly. Add some Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate, filter and distill it again (with a column). That is as clean as it will get, that is what i do when i synthesis benzocaine or ether. Also DO NOT perform this ether synthesis if you do not have proper glassware! If you fuck up it will blow in your face! and yes traces of Methanol are indeed very bad, dimethyl ether is not some nice stuff!

Good luck anyways!

Heat has it right. And to answer your second question, IS IT REALLY WORTH THE BUZZ?



Seriously, respect your body more than that kid, or you won't live to see 20.

If you're referring to me as "that kid", I meant to use everclear as an ethanol source. But yes... everclear is worth the buzz.... if you're referring to that? haha

If you're referring to me as "that kid", I meant to use everclear as an ethanol source. But yes... everclear is worth the buzz.... if you're referring to that? haha

pretty sure sn's talking about sniffing ether. I really hope swiy is planning an extraction, and not planning on inhaling Et2O.

If you're referring to me as "that kid", I meant to use everclear as an ethanol source. But yes... everclear is worth the buzz.... if you're referring to that? haha
no man, you just misunderstood the timbre of my post, I was telling him "you need to respect your body more than THAT, kid"


That referring to huffing methyl ether, with the OP being the "kid"

That referring to huffing methyl ether, with the OP being the "kid"

So ethyl ether is safe? Good to know.

So ethyl ether is safe? Good to know.
Ethyl ether is safe as hell, methyl ether, however, is not safe at all.

Wouldn't it be easier to distill the ether from starter fluid? I don't know the percentage of ether in the mixture, but 400ml of fluid is like $3 by me.

The h2so4 method at high temperatures will yield primary secondary and sometimes tertiary ethers.

Enjoy your brain damage.

The h2so4 method at high temperatures will yield primary secondary and sometimes tertiary ethers.

Enjoy your brain damage.

This seems a little unlikely, given that you would be starting with ethanol only. To make a secondary or tertiary ether you would have to invoke some rather odd carbocation rearrangements and addition reactions...

This seems a little unlikely, given that you would be starting with ethanol only. To make a secondary or tertiary ether you would have to invoke some rather odd carbocation rearrangements and addition reactions...

"high temperatures" being the operative words.

"high temperatures" being the operative words.

refs?

mechanisms?

I'm somewhat dubious, but happy to be proved wrong !

^^i'm kind of in a hurry right now but just based on intuition, after initial formation of the ether, at harsh enough conditions a dehydration could possibly occur at an a-Carbon to form a secondary ether...however, you're right in being skeptical since the ether would probably ignite before this could happen...perhaps at high pressure instead? It's not like I've ever done this myself, feel free to poke holes in my truly hypothetical argument.

not sure about dehydration, but perhaps polymerisation could occur through formation of oxonium species, which may then be subject to attack from residual alcohols. I guess this could lead to secondary and tertiary polyethers...

I think sealed vessels and high temperatures would certainly promote this...

not sure about dehydration, but perhaps polymerisation could occur through formation of oxonium species, which may then be subject to attack from residual alcohols. I guess this could lead to secondary and tertiary polyethers...

I think sealed vessels and high temperatures would certainly promote this...

man, i'd like to try that out. That process could yield some interesting results. I would bet that if the oxonium ion were formed, a high T would make the alcohol attack pretty favorable...if working with just ethanol and possibly trace methanol, there shouldn't be too much trouble with steric hindrance...

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=9747

Of your interest....