Question

Why is it better to produce nylon in the lab rather than commercially?

Answer 1

Nylons are some of the most important fibers produced commercially but not more reactive in parent acid .In the lab, we will take advantage of the fact the an acid chloride is much more reactive than the parent acid. So we will convert the adipic acid to adipoyl chloride which is much more reactive toward the amine. You will produce the adipoyl chloride by reacting your adipic acid (from last weeks lab) with thionyl chloride. In effect, the thionyl chloride replaces the hydroxide of the carboxylic group with chlorine which is a much better leaving group.