Formaldehyde → 5-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid

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Reaction Steps

The mixture of 4.84 g of 5-benzylaminopyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 8 ml of 97% aqueous formic acid and 8 ml of 37% aqueous formaldehyde is heated on a steam bath for 22 hours. It is evaporated, the residue dissolved in water and the solution again evaporated. A third such cycle with acetonitrile-toluene yields a solid which is recrystallized from 90% aqueous acetonitrile, to yield the 5-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid melting at 168°-173°.

Provenance & Evidence