Experiment - Claisen CondensationReactions:
In this experiment, we performed a Claisen condensation reactionof ethyl phenylacetate using potassium tert-butoxide to form ethyl3-oxo-2,4-diphenylbutanoate and ethanol without using a solvent.This allowed us to reduce waste, have reagents that have arelatively low toxicity level, and made the reaction much moreconvenient.
Question 2: If this reaction were run in asolution (as opposed to solvent-free) it would require severalhours of refluxing and provide a much smaller yield. Why is thisthe case?
I cannot seem to find an answer to this question. The only thingthat I can find is that the reaction is reversible when a solventis used (which I'm assuming means that the reaction is notreversible when there is no solvent). If this is correct, why isthe reaction reversible when a solvent is used, and not reversiblewhen a solvent is not used?
A source for the answer would be appreciated if possible.
Thank you for the help in advance!
