Why is dichloromethane a good solvent?
Dichloromethane is an organic solvent and therefore it can dissolve many non-polar organic molecules (establishing London type interactions). However, it has a large dipole moment (see figure) and therefore it can also dissolve polar molecules (with London type interactions and dipole-dipole interactions). Because of the high dipole moment, it is a good non-aqueous solvent for chemical reactions involving polar molecules.
Adipic Acid
Adipic acid, or more formally hexanedioic acid, is a white crystalline solid that melts at 152 oC. It is one of the most important monomers in the polymer industry.
Adipic acid is found in beet juice, but the article of commerce—≈2.5 million tonnes of it per year—is manufactured. In 1906, French chemists L. Bouveault and R. Locquin reported that adipic acid can be produced by oxidizing cyclohexanol. Today, the most common manufacturing process is the nitric acid (HNO3) oxidation of a cyclohexanol–cyclohexanone mixture called KA (for ketone–alcohol) oil.
Almost all adipic acid is used as a comonomer with hexamethylenediamine to produce nylon 6-6. It is also used to manufacture other polymers such as polyurethanes.
ethanol
ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, or alcohol, a member of a class of organic compounds that are given the general name alcohols; its molecular formula is C2H5OH. Ethanol is an important industrial chemical; it is used as a solvent, in the synthesis of other organic chemicals, and as an additive to automotive gasoline (forming a mixture known as a gasohol). Ethanol is also the intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits.
There are two main processes for the manufacture of ethanol: the fermentation of carbohydrates (the method used for alcoholic beverages) and the hydration of ethylene. Fermentation involves the transformation of carbohydrates to ethanol by growing yeast cells. The chief raw materials fermented for the production of industrial alcohol are sugar crops such as beets and sugarcane and grain crops such as corn (maize). Hydration of ethylene is achieved by passing a mixture of ethylene and a large excess of steam at high temperature and pressure over an acidic catalyst.
