The purpose of this lab was to perform a Diels Alder reaction by using anthracene and maleic anhydride to form 9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-α,β-succinic acid anhydride. At the end of the experiment, the mass of the final product was used to calculate the percent yield in order to examine the efficiency of the reaction. In addition, the melting point range was measured of the final product and compared with the literature value to determine the purity of the product. To a 10 mL round bottom flask was added 0.406 g, 0.200 g and 5mL of toluene. The solution had a yellowish color when the reactants were mixed. Then, the flask was attached to the condenser and heated at 160° C to maintain reflux for an hour. After the hour, the reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature. As the reaction cool down, small crystal formed in the reaction. The crystals (product) of the reaction were collected in the Buchner funnel by vacuum filtration for 15minutes. Finally, the …show more content…
From the reaction, only 0.447 g (79. 3 % yield) of 9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-α,β-succinic acid anhydride was obtained. When the reaction was transferred to the Buchner funnel, many crystals were stuck to the side of the round flask. A spatula was used to take out some material, but the flask was small that most of the product was still inside the flask. This caused the decreasing of the percent yield of the reaction because mass was lost of the product. By taking the melting point of the final product, the purity of the product was determined. According to lab, “The Diels-Alder Reaction of Anthracene with Maleic Anhydride,” the literature value for the melting point range of the product of the reaction is 262° C -264° C. The melting point range for the experimental product was 262.3 ° C - 264.1° C. This narrow experimental values of the melting point range matched with the literature value which indicated that the final product was