Synthesis Of Paracetamol From

p- aminophenol
Aim: To prepare paracetamol from p-aminophenol.

Principle: The synthesis of the amide essentially just requires running the reaction
under certain temperature conditions with an appropriate catalyst. Paracetamol is
prepared from p- aminophenol by acetylating it with acetic anhydride in the
presence of 3-4 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid as catalyst.

Reaction:
Mechanism:

Uses:

It is an effective antipyretic and analgesic. Activity of the drug on the hypothalamic

heat-regulating centre is the mechanism behind the antipyretic effect, whereas
analgesia is shown due to elevation of the pain-threshold.

It is also found to be useful in diseases accompanied by pain, discomfort, and fever,

for instance the common cold and other viral infections.2 It is also active against
arthritic and rheumatic disorders involving musculoskeletal pain as well as the pain
occurred due to headache, myalgia, dysmenorrhea and neuralgia.
Chemicals:

p-Aminophenol – 6 g
Acetic anhydride – 6.5 ml
Concentrated Sulphuric acid – 4 drops

Apparatus:

Conical flask
Buchner funnel
Measuring cylinder
Filter paper
PROCEDURE:
Weigh 6 g of p-aminophenol and transfer to a 100 ml thoroughly cleaned and
dried conical flask. Add to the flask 6.5 ml of acetic anhydride and 3–4 drops of
concentrated sulphuric acid carefully. The contents of the flask may be mixed
thoroughly. Warm the mixture on a water-bath previously maintained at 60°C for
about 20–25 min with constant stirring.

Allow the contents of the flask to attain room temperature, and pour it directly
into a beaker having 100 ml of cold water (with a few chips of crushed ice) and
stir it vigorously.

The crude product obtained is filtered onto a Büchner funnel using suction, wash
it with plenty of cold water, drain well and dry the product either between the
folds of filter paper and air-dry it or dry it in an electric oven maintained at
100°C.
The yield of crude paracetamol (169–170.5°C) is approximately 6.8 g..
Recrystallisation
Dissolve the crude product in 70% (v/v) ethanol and warm it to 60°C; add 2 g of
powdered animal charcoal (decolourizing carbon). Filter and concentrate the filtrate
over a water-bath. Allow it to cool and large monoclinic crystals will separate out.
The yield of the pure paracetamol (m.p. 169–170.5°C) is 6.5 g.

Precautions
All glass apparatus must be perfectly dry. Concentrated sulphuric acid should
always be added with great caution.
Calculation
Here limiting reagent is p-aminophenol; hence yield should be calculated from its amount taken.
Molecular formula of p-aminophenol = C6H7NO
And molecular formula of paracetamol = C8H9NO2
Molecular weight of p-aminophenol = 109 g/mole
Molecular weight of paracetamol = 151 g/mole

Theoretical yield:

109 g p-aminophenol forms 151 g paracetamol

Therefore, 6 g p-aminophenol will form ………? (X) g paracetamol
X =( 151 × 6)/109 = 8.31 g
Theoretical yield = 8.31 g
Practical yield = ————- g
% Yield = (Practical Yield)/(Theoretical Yield) × 100

CONCLUSION
Paracetamol was synthesized and the percentage yield was found to be………..%.
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚈𝚘𝚞
𝗩. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 (𝟮𝟮𝗥𝟭𝟭𝗔𝟬𝟱𝗡𝟳)

𝗡.𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗮
(𝟮𝟮𝗥𝟭𝟭𝗔𝟬𝟱𝗠𝟲)