Can anybody help me to explain why I got oil product when I synthesized chalcone from 1-acetyl naphthalene and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution as catalyst; on the other side I got solid product by using sodium hydroxide dissolved in methanol?
The reaction between 1-acetyl naphthalene and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde is a condensation reaction (Claisen-Scmidth Condensation). This reation usually released water molecule.
When you use the aqueous sodium hydroxide solution as catalyst, the product (chalcone) maybe mixed with the excess water (the released water and water in basic solution). In addition, this reaction condition maybe produce some oily side product. Your product can be mixed with the oily side product. So, this condition cause the formation of oily product.
When you use the sodium hydroxide dissolved in methanol, the released water maybe dissolve in methanol. So, it is easy to separate the product (chalcone) from water, because the released water is dissolved in methanol. In addtion, this catalyst condition maybe reduce the formation of oily side product. So, you can get the solid product.
I have tried many methods to synthesis chalcones with various structures. One of the reasons why we get oily product is due to the reaction conditions that cause the formation of oily byproducts which then mix with the chalcone.
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