Hexamethylphosphoramide → Desethyl-etomidate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 14.3 parts of (-)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid sodium salt, 1.9 parts of a 61.8% suspension of sodium hydride in mineral oil and 60 parts of hexamethylphosphoric triamide is stirred for 20 hours at 100° C. under Argon atmosphere. The mixture is allowed to cool at room temperature and poured onto 150 parts of water. The whole is washed three times with 200 parts of dichloromethane. The aqueous phase is neutralized (pH 7) with acetic acid and the product is allowed to crystallize. The product is filtered off, dried and recrystallized from ethanol, yielding (±)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid; m.p. 188° C.

Provenance & Evidence