Methyl iodide → 1-Methyl-2-nitroimidazole

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-nitro-1H-imidazole (500 mg, 4.4 mmol) in DMF (50 mL) is added cesium carbonate (1.7 g, 5.3 mmol) and the mixture is heated to 50° C. for 30 minutes. The resulting suspension is cooled to room temperature and MeI (0.33 mL, 5.3 mmol) is added. The reaction is heated to 50° C. for 2 hours is then cooled to room temperature and filtered through a bed of Celite. The filtrate is poured over ice water and extracted ethyl acetate. The organic layer is washed with water, brine, dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated to afford the title compound (485 mg, 86%) as a yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence