Water → 7-Benzyl-3-methylxanthine

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (10 ml) was added to a suspension of 3-methylxanthine (4.15 g) in methanol (25 ml) and the mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 70° C. Benzyl bromide (4.275 g, 2.97 ml) was added dropwise at 70° C. and the mixture was stirred at 70-80° C. for an additional 5 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was treated with water (50 ml). The precipitate was filtered, dissolved in 1 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (50 ml) and the solution was acidified to pH 4-5 with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The precipitate was filtered and washed with water (3×20 ml) to provide 7-benzyl-3-methylxanthine (4.45 g).

Provenance & Evidence