Orgo lab question: In the acyetlation of ferrocene using chromatography, how would the TLC plate for the crude sample compare to the TLC plate for the sample that was purified by column chromatography? The crude sample was obtained by 1) heating ferrocene mixture also containing acetic anhydride and 85% phosphoric acid, then 2) ccoling in ice and adding 3M sodium hydroxide solution, then 3) collected product through vacuum filtration

In the TLC plate of crude product, you may be seen the product spot together with the starting material ferrocene. Ferrocene will be the more nonpolar so it will have highest R_f value in TLC after this monoacetylated product can be seen with more polar and less R_f value than ferrocene. In addition to these two spots, one most polar diacetylated product may also be seen with least R_f value. While in the In the TLC of the plate after column you may find the single product spot with the same R_f value of the compound in the middle of crude TLC plate. The purity of compound will depend on the quality expertise of column separation.