Turning mint flavor into a glowing liquid

TL;DR

The content discusses the process of synthesizing MCPo, a greener alternative to TCPo in glow sticks, and compares their performance and environmental impact.

Transcript

a while ago I made a chemical called tcpo which is the main ingredient in a lot of glow sticks however when I went to go try it out it really didn't last very long and it completely died within a few minutes this happened because I didn't have the solvent that most commercial glow sticks use I instead used ethyl acetate which is much easier to get ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌟 Ethyl acetate is not the ideal solvent for TCPo glow sticks, leading to a short-lived glow.
• 😒 MCPo is a greener alternative to TCPo, as it replaces a toxic starting material with wintergreen and uses ethyl acetate as a solvent.
• ❓ The synthesis of MCPo involves combining THF, wintergreen, pyridine, and xalo chloride, and requires dry reagents for better yield.
• ☠️ The glow intensity and duration of MCPo can be influenced by the solvent used and the reaction rate of the synthesis.
• 🌟 MCPo glow sticks have a less intense but longer-lasting glow compared to TCPo.
• 🐎 MCPo can be synthesized on a larger scale, but the relative amounts of peroxide and base catalysts affect the reaction speed and glow intensity.
• 💄 MCPo glow sticks made using ethyl acetate can last for several hours, making it a viable alternative to TCPo-based glow sticks.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did TCPo glow sticks made using ethyl acetate not last long?

Ethyl acetate is not the ideal solvent for TCPo glow sticks, leading to a short-lived glow. The solvent used in commercial glow sticks is more effective for a longer-lasting glow.

Q: How is MCPo synthesized?

MCPo is synthesized by combining THF, wintergreen, and pyridine. Xalo chloride is slowly added, which reacts with wintergreen to form MCPo. Pyridine hydrochloride is formed as a byproduct and is separated during purification.

Q: How does the glow of MCPo compare to TCPo?

MCPo produces a less intense and longer-lasting glow compared to TCPo. The speed of the reaction and the solvent used influence the glow intensity and duration.

Q: Why is MCPo considered a greener alternative?

MCPo is considered greener because it replaces a toxic starting material in TCPo with environmentally friendly wintergreen. Ethyl acetate, the solvent used, is also more environmentally friendly than phthalate-based solvents.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The creator discusses their previous attempt at making TCPo glow sticks using ethyl acetate as a solvent, but they didn't last long. They found a replacement called MCPo that works better and is more environmentally friendly.

• The synthesis of MCPo involves using wintergreen as a replacement for a toxic starting material in TCPo. The creator explains the process of synthesizing wintergreen and purifying it.

• The creator demonstrates the synthesis of MCPo using THF, wintergreen, and pyridine. They explain the reaction steps and the importance of dry reagents. They also compare the glow of TCPo and MCPo in different solvents.