Formic Acid → 4-Methylbenzimidazole

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Reaction Steps

To a flask were added 2.0 g 2,3-diaminotoluene, 1.0 g 90% formic acid and 30 ml 5M hydrochloric acid and the mixture was heated to 9 C under nitrogen for 4 hours. After cooling to 22 C, the mixture was basified with aqueous ammonium hydroxide and the product was removed by filtration and washed with water. The product was purified by column chromatography using pure ethyl acetate resulting in 1.0 g brown solid.

Provenance & Evidence