Question

1. Answer the following questions:

   1. Why should the glassware be dry for this experiment?

      Why might water contamination be a problem when using the reagent acetic anhydride; what byproduct might form due to moisture?

      
      

1a

This reaction can easily be “followed” by TLC, i.e., as the reaction proceeds, salicylic acid starting material is consumed, simultaneously with formation of product. Curiously the SM will have an Rf value higher than the product. Why is this odd? ?

(What structural feature in the SM would lead you to predict it to have a lower Rf than the product?).

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2. Based on question b: if your reaction was incomplete, how might the TLC plate look?

   
   

1. 
   

Answer 1