Potassium Iodide → (+)-2-Cyclopropylmethyl-7-hydroxy-1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

Participants

Reaction Steps

16.2 g. (48.9 mmol) (-)-7-Hydroxy-1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, 8.2 g. (100 mmol) sodium bicarbonate and 500 mg. potassium iodide are dissolved in 200 ml. anhydrous ethanol and mixed with 4.5 ml. (4.44 g., 49 mmol) chloromethylcyclopropane. The reaction mixture is boiled under reflux for 40 hours in an inert gas atmosphere. The usual working up and chromatographic separation of unreacted starting material on silica gel with chloroform as elution agent gives (+)-2-cyclopropylmethyl-7-hydroxy-1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline; m.p. 70°-81° C. (recrystallised from methanol/diethyl ether/hexane).

Provenance & Evidence