Hydrochloric Acid → 4-Methylimidazol-5-ylmethanolhydrochloride

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 1.48 g (0.01 mol) of 5-methylimidazole-4-carboxylic acid sodium salt, 2 ml of ~37% formaldehyde solution and 3 ml of 1,4-dioxane was heated at 75°-85° C. for 3 hours. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was stripped off, and the remaining residue was extracted with isopropanol. The isopropanol extract was concentrated to give a viscous oil. This viscous oil was dissolved in absolute ethanol and dry hydrogen chloride gas was passed through the resulting solution to afford 0.93 g of 4-hydroxymethyl-5-methylimidazole hydrochloride, m.p. 241°-244° C. Yield 63%.

Provenance & Evidence