General Description
Clear, colorless liquid with an agreeable aromatic odor.
Reactivity Profile
1,3-PROPYLENE OXIDE(503-30-0) reacts with Grignard reagents and organolithium compounds. 1,3-PROPYLENE OXIDE(503-30-0) is also incompatible with oxidizing agents and strong acids. . An explosion occurred when propylene oxide was added to epoxy resin. Polymerization was catalyzed by amine accelerator in the resin [Bretherick 1995]. Propylene oxide and sodium hydroxide base-catalyzed the polymerization of the former, causing ignition and explosion of a drum of the crude product. [Combust Sci. Technol., 1983].
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Water soluble.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is flammable.
Chemical Properties
CLEAR COLOURLESS LIQUID
Uses
Trimethylene oxide useful for the synthesis of 3-substituted propanols by reaction with Grignards or organolithiums in the presence of CuBr.
Definition
ChEBI: A saturated organic heteromonocyclic parent that is a four-membered ring comprising of three carbon atoms and an oxygen atom.
Purification Methods
Distil oxetane twice from sodium metal and then fractionate it through a small column at atmospheric pressure, b 47.0-47.2o. It can also be purified by preparative gas chromatography using a 2m silica gel column. Alternatively, add KOH pellets (50g for 100g of oxetane) and distil it through an efficient column or a column packed with 1/4in Berl Saddles with the main portion boiling at 45-50o being collected and redistilled over fused KOH. [Noller Org Synth Coll Vol III 835 1955, Dittmer et al. J Am Chem Soc 79 4431 1957, Beilstein 17 H 6, 17 I 3, 17 II 12, 17 III/IV 13, 17/1 V 11.]
