Methyl iodide → N-methyl-L-tryptophan

Participants

Reaction Steps

The protected tryptophan derivative from above (0.573 g, 1.00 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (3 mL) and the solution cooled in ice. Sodium hydride (60% oil dispersion, 0.048 g, 1.2 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred for 30 min. Iodomethane (0.093 mL, 1.5 mmol) was added and stirring continued for an additional hour. The reaction was then quenched with 10% citric acid (2 mL) and water (25 mL), and extracted with Et2O (100 mL). The extract was dried (MgSO4) and concentrated, and the residue purified by flash chromatography (20-30% EtOAc/hexane as eluent) to give the desired N-methyltryptophan derivative (0.284 g).

Provenance & Evidence