The isolation of (‐)‐sec.‐butylcarbinol from fusel oil

Abstract

Although the separation of (‐)‐sec.‐butylcarbinol from fusel oil has been reported previously, in view of the utility of this substance as a source of optically‐active material, details of the methods now used, both by distillation and by crystallization of the hydrogen phthalic ester, are described. The effect of temperature on the rotatory power at various wavelengths is recorded. The pure laevorotatory alcohol, α 546125 −5·654°, now obtained suggests that previous samples were not pure.