Henry Reaction

[@nickbonsavage2586]

When i attempt this i get a small amount dark brown liquid, a side product of some sort, that sinks in the ice water when crashing out the nitrostyrene. It takes a moment to crystalize even in cold water. I can decant the suspension with the nitrostyrene and separate just about all of it, but it makes up about 10% of my yield. Any idea what that might be? Could too much ammonium acetate create this as a side product?

[@CVPQ]

I'm not sure, (in the absence of experimental data,) I suspect that if the reaction goes on too long maybe the nitrostyrene reacts as an electrophile acting as a 1,4 acceptor for any excess nitromethane? I don't think the ammonia adding in would be a significant by product as this is an intermediate of the reaction anyway which quickly undergoes elimination.

[@lilkurva180]

Cool stuff.