Formaldehyde → 3-(Hydroxymethyl)phenytoin

Participants

Reaction Steps

Phenytoin (5 g, 0.02 mol) was suspended in 180 ml of water; 20 ml of formaldehyde (37% solution) and 0.25 g K2CO3 were added and the mixture was stirred at 25°-30° C. for 24 hours. The white solid which formed was removed by filtration and washed repeatedly with a 3% solution of formaldehyde, then air dried for 3 to 4 hours and over P2O5 in a vacuum dessicator. Yield 91-93%, m.p. 185°-189° C. Anal. calc. for C16H14N2O3 : C, 68.07; H, 5.00; N, 9.93. Found: C, 67.97; H, 5.05; N, 9.93. The product has the formula: ##STR1539##

Provenance & Evidence