Extraction of Trimyristin

         First the extraction was performed. Ground nutmeg (0.995 g, 2.573 mmol), tert-butyl methyl ether (3.0 mL, 251.843 mmol), and three boiling chips were placed in a round-bottomed (RB) flask, and the distillation column was attached to the RB flask using a black connector. The flask was lowered completely into the aluminum black of the hot plate, set to 250 °C. Carefully adjust the position of the flask so that the mixture boils very gently. The mixture in the flask was heated to boiling for 10 minutes, then removed from the heat and allowed to cool to room temperature. A micro-scale filtration assembly was prepared, with a 25 mL Erlenmeyer flask placed underneath. The contents of the RB flask were transferred gradually via pipet into the filtration apparatus. A rinse was done on the remaining solid in the RB flask using fresh tert-butyl methyl ether (2.0 mL, 16.789 mmol), which was then heated and filtered again. The solvent in the Erlenmeyer flask was evaporated until only crude trimyristin remained in the form of a gummy yellowish solid.