I am attempting to interpret an experimental section on a scientific paper. The paper calls for 0.51 mmol of 3,5-dimethoxy phenol, 1.0 mmol of 3-methyl-3-butenal, 5 mol% of phenylboronic acid, 20 mol% of benzoic acid, and 2.5 mL of heptane. I am trying to figure out what is meant by mole% in this case. There are many different interpretations of this I have seen online, including mole percent being based on a fraction of the limiting reagent (the phenol in this case), the mole percent being based on the fraction of all of the total moles of reactant and catalyst (most fitting of the definition of mole percent), and the mole percent being based on all of the moles of reactant, catalyst, and solvent. It makes most sense that the mole percent for this protocol would be based on the limiting reagent, but I included the calculations based on the total moles of reactants and catalysts for reference. Does anyone know what the term "mole percent" would appropriately based on in this case?
0.51 mmol (phenol der.) + 1.0 mmol (aldehyde) + x mol PhB(OH)2 + y mol PhCOOH = z total mol
0.2 z (total mol) = y mol PhCOOH 0.05 z (total mol) = x mol PhB(OH)2
0.51 mmol (phenol der.) + 1.0 mmol (aldehyde) + 0.2z + 0.05z = z total mol 0.75z = 1.51 z = 2.013
0.2 (2.013) = 0.40 mol benzoic acid 0.05 (2.013) = 0.10 mol phenyl boric acid
If the mole percent was based on the moles of the LR, the moles of catalyst would be as follows: 0.10 mol benzoic acid and 0.026 mol of phenyl boric acid