Butanedione → 1H-Imidazole-4-methanol, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 100 gm. portion of benzamidine hydrochloride is dissolved in a minimum of water (350 ml.) at room temperature. A 67 gm. portion of freshly distilled 2,3-butanedione is added giving a yellow solution. Adjusting the pH to 6-7 with 2N NaOH gives a solid which is allowed to stand at 0° C. for 2 hours, collected, pressed dry and then washed with 100 ml. of acetone. This material is heated with stirring on a steam bath with 855 ml. of concentrated HCl and 2437 ml. of water for 4 hours giving a solution. Cooling to room temperature overnight and then to 0° C. produces a solid which is collected and air dried. This solid is dissolved in 350 ml. of ethanol, filtered and cooled producing a gel, which is taken up in 250 ml. of 50°-60° C. water, adjusted to pH 5.5 with concentrated NaOH and then to pH 7-8 with solid KHCO3. The mixture is cooled to 0° C. and the product is collected, washed with water, and air dried. This product is recrystallized from 1 liter of methanol giving the final product, m.p. 197°-199° C.

Provenance & Evidence