/sci/ - Science & Math

>Synthesizing a catenane for research purposes.
>Trying to purify one of the components using a silica gel column.
>Have tried this column twice before with different solvent systems, neither worked well at all.
>Decide I don't want to waste time and materials, load the column up with DMSO.
>Works like a champ.
>Realize that I now have to evaporate 50mL+ of DMSO without significant heating. (boiling point: 189 deg. C)
>Kick myself.
>Try rotovapping under partial vacuum, fail miserably.
>Set up a distillation apparatus under high vacuum.
>It takes fucking forever.
>Worry that my product may have decayed. (It didn't, but nevertheless)
>MFW I might as well have just ran the column with a slower solvent system.