Synthesis of fructone from ethyl acetoacetate and ethylene glycol using phosphotungstic acid catalyst

Abstract

Fructone is a perfume compound with the aroma of apples. Fructone can be synthesized through the acetalization reaction of ethyl acetoacetate and ethylene glycol using an acid catalyst. This study aims to determine the effect of the cyclohexane-water azeotropic method and to determine the optimum conditions for the synthesis of fructone using phosphotungstic acid as a catalyst. Fructone synthesis using reflux equipped with Dean-Stark apparatus. Determination of the optimum conditions includes temperature variations of 75, 78, and 81°C; mol ratio of ethyl acetoacetate and ethylene glycol 1:1.5; 1:2; and 1:3; the number of mol of catalyst 2; 1; 0.5; 0.25; and 0.125 mmol. The reaction time is 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 min. The synthesis products were analyzed by GC and GCMS. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of fructone were found at a temperature of 78C, the ratio of mol of ethyl acetoacetate and ethylene glycol 1: 3, the amount of catalyst was 1 mmol and the reaction time was 3 hours. Fructone produced is 93.42%.