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Mani Bhullar

Can propyne be prepared from calcium carbide and water? If so, how?

Bryan Michaels-Lex  Follow

Directly (e.g., one step), no. The reaction of calcium carbide (CaC2) and water (H2O) results in the formation of acetylene (HCCH).

2 H2O + CaC2 → HCCH + Ca(OH)2

Now, if you react the acetylene with one equivalent of n-butyl lithium (CH3CH2CH2CH2-Li) in THF and then add one equivalent of methyl iodide (CH3I) you will get propyne

HCCH + n-butyl lithium → HCC-Li + CH3CH2CH2CH3
HCC-Li + CH3-I → HCC-CH3 + LiI

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Dan Dunay  Follow

Hmm, the necessary atomic constituents are there, so yes. But, it wouldn’t be a simple process. Probably like 10–20 different processes.

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