Natural Science Forum / Chemistry / Organic Synthesis / January 2007

> "Peter Jason" <PJ@PJ.com.nz> wrote in message
> news:d6ck6b$as$1@ikaria.belnet.be...
>> Is it possible to produce this by azeotropic extraction of water traces
> with
>> hexane/heptane?
>
> Actually the benzene/ethanol/water azeotrope is the most commonly used.
> But
> a much better technique is a to take 1 L of ethanol and add 25 g of
> magnesium metal.  Reflux until the metal is consumed (add a few drops of
> chloroform if it doesn't start to get cloudy).  It will take a good 24 h
> to
> convert the metal to magnesium ethoxide.
>
> Then just distill the ethanol off.  It will be very dry.
>
> Dave