Hydrochloric Acid → 1-Methyl-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-5-methanol

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Reaction Steps

To 0.2 g. of 5-carbethoxy-1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole in 30 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, 0.044 g. of LiBH4 is gradually added under stirring at room temperature. After stirring for 48 hours, the excess of LiBH4 is decomposed with 10% hydrochloric acid, the reaction mixture is filtered and the filtrated is evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The residue is taken up with acetone. Inorganic salts are filtered off and the solution is evaporated. The oily residue is chromatographed through 7 g. of silica gel, by eluting with chloroform containing from 1% to 3% (v/v) of methanol. After concentration of the portions containing the product, 0.052 g. (33%) of 1-methyl-2-nitro-5-hydroxymethylimidazole is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence