Why is the organic layer is washed with a dilute sodium hydroxide solution?

Answer 1

The organic layer is washed with a dilute sodium hydroxide solution to neutralize any remaining acidic impurities. This helps to ensure that the organic product is free from any acidic contaminants, which could potentially affect the purity and yield of the final product. Additionally, washing with sodium hydroxide can help remove any traces of residual unreacted starting material or byproducts.