Current projects as of 07/09/2025:

Recovery of sodium from menthol-catalyzed synthesis
Preparation of isopropyl halides for Grignard reaction
Do a Claisen condensation after getting sodium metal

Interesting chemicals synthesized (i.e. a "trophy case") :

Ethyl acetate
Diethyl ether
Hydrobromic acid
Crystalline iodine
Copper (III) peroxide
Propylene carbonate
Anhydrous aluminum chloride

electrolysis-produced sodium failure

07/10/2025

Recently I tried making sodium through adding anhydrous AlCl3 to propylene carbonate, planning to form a very soluble Na[AlCl4]- complex in propylene carbonate which can be electrolyzed to plate out sodium metal. Unfortunately, the first addition of AlCl3 turned the propylene carbonate to brown tar. Chemistry is evil.