Hi, I need some help! I have tried the Rusznak method for resolving racemic amphetamine. Here is the only information from Erowid, I tried to search for the paper, but could not find anything:
A mixture of 0.1 mole (13.52 g.) phenylisopropylamine (or 14.92 g. methamphetamine base) in 60 ml benzene, 0.05 mole d-tartaric acid (7.50 g.) in 30 ml water, and 2 g sodium hydroxide (reagent grade or titrated equivalent) in 3 ml water was kept 4 hours with intermittent shaking, and the organic phase evaporated to give 98% L-phenylisopropylamine. The aqueous phase was extracted with benzene at pH 13 and evaporated to give 96% D-enantiomer.
I used half amounts compared to the description. Everything went fine, I got the Amphetamine disolved then base extracted with 30ml of
Toluene (I didn`t have benzene - could this be the problem?), then added the other ingredients and kept for about 4 hours. There was some precipitate forming, but nothing some shaking in the separatory funnel would not help. Aqueous phase separated, and alkali given to PH 13. A nice layer of base formed on top of the water, so at this point I thought everything is fine. The base was extracted with 30ml of Toluene, however, when the acetone-sulphuric acid was added there was only a moderate precipitation, which did not increase, rather it started to disappear when a small layer of sulphuric acid - water was formed at the bottom of the beaker.
How can I save the hopefully D-Amphetamine extracted? I have also saved all the phases, so if someone points out a blunder earlier on, I can reverse. This is a very nice and easy method and I think it went fine, I just probably made some horrible mistakes in the simple extraction at the end. Actually wanted to re-read Patton`s extraction topic before starting with the final extraction, but was too excited and just went for it.
Any herlp would be appreciated.
My tips are:
- my acetone was not anhydrous - I distilled the acetone on NaSO4 yesterday and it was kept in a closed flask, but not in the freezer
- sulphuric acid contained water (it is pretty concentrated but not sure exactly - between 90-95%)
- I should have dried the Toluene before adding the acid - or perhaps just evaporate it a bit?
- Toluene is not the right solvent for this extraction for some reason (unknown to me).
- Should I reverse buy adding some alkali, then drying the Toluene, then let it evaporate?