How can I remove the DCU after an esterification catalyzed by DCC ? I used DMF and dichloromethane (DCM) as solvent for the esterification reaction?
Normally DCU precipitates in the media. Cooling your solution may help more to precpitate . Then filtereing takes it away. A last filtration through a pad of silica gel may clean completely.
Unfortunately, DCU is soluble in DMF so you might struggle without removing your solvents. Cold EtOAc usually helps, but as Gilbert said, you might still need to do a short silica gel purification.
Alternatively, could you use EDC instead of DCC? It’s more expensive, but it is simpler to purify.
It's always a struggle and that mixture of solvents makes it even more troublesome. If your product is sufficiently hydrophobic, you can add ethyl acetate and wash off DMF with water, then rinse with saturate soidum chloride, dry with sodium or magnesium sulfate and filter solution to remove both desiccant and DCU precipitate. Unfortunately it won't remove all of it probably, but removing small amount by column or crystallization is far easier. If your product is soluble in hexane, you can try and use it to remove DCU as well.
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