Chemical Properties
Liquid. Melting point -20-16.5°C, boiling point 101-101.5 (2.8 kPa), relative density 0.936, refractive index (nD20) 1.4634. Flash point 78°C.
Purification Methods
Dissolve menthyl chloride in pet ether (b 40-60o), wash with H2O, conc H2SO4 until no discoloration of the organic layer occurs (care with conc H2SO4 during shaking in a separating funnel), again with H2O and dry it (MgSO4). Evaporate and distil the residual oil through a Claisen head with a Vigreux neck ( p 11) of ca 40 cm length. [Smith & Wright J Org Chem 17 1116 1952, Barton et al. J Chem Soc 453 1952, Beilstein 5 III 134.]
