In the following Diels Alder reaction between sulfolene and

In the following Diel\'s Alder reaction between sulfolene and Maleic Anhydride in Xylene, the Diel’s Alder adduct was recrystallized using petroleum ether and toluene mixture. Is it possible for ethanol be used for recrystallization instead of the petroleum ether and toluene mixture?

Solution

Ethanol is polar solvent because ethanol contains -OH group and so take part in hydrogen bonding.

The product formed due to Diel\'s Alder reaction between sulfolene and Maleic Anhydride in Xylene, contains anhydride group which is polar in nature and also there are nonpolar part.

petroleum ether and toluene mixture contains both polar and nonpolar solvents. toluene is nonpolar solvent and ether is moderately polar solvent.

If we use ethanol, then recrystallization does not occurs properly because product is highly soluble in ethanol. Hence with decreasing the volume of ethanol, product can not crystallized that means product still soluble in ethanol.

Polarity of petroleum ether and toluene mixture is comaparatively less than ethanol.

Hence for recrystallization petroleum ether and toluene mixture is the best.