Synthesis of Vanillyl Acetate Through Fischer Esterification of Acetic Acid and Vanillyl Alcohol Product of Vanillyl Reduction

Abstract

The aims of this research are (1) synthesis of vanillyl alcohol compounds using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) and synthesis of vanillyl acetate compounds through Fischer esterification reaction between acetic acid and vanillyl alcohol from reduced product of vanillin, (2) characterization of vanillyl alcohol compounds and vanillyl acetate compounds using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GS-MS). Vanillyl alcohol was obtained by reducing the aldehyde group of vanillin using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). Through the Fischer esterification reaction between the reduced compound of vanillin and acetic acid using H₂SO₄ as a catalyst, vanillyl acetate was characterized using TLC, FTIR, and GC-MS. The identification results using TLC showed the appearance of the functional group OH alcohol and CO alcohol in the area of 3442.22 cm^-1 and 1153.99 cm^-1 on the IR spectrum of vanillyl alcohol. Identification using GC-MS stated that vanillyl alcohol has a purity of 91.13% of 154 m/z value in the yield of 59.74%. The results of the esterification reaction form the brown solids with a yield of 63.98%. Meanwhile, the characterization results using TLC showed that the synthesis of vanillyl acetate has been formed by the appearance of the functional group C=O ester at a wave number of 1738.59 cm^-1 and CO ester at 1274,2 cm^-1 on the IR spectrum of vanillyl acetate.