Nitric Acid → 4,7-Dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a cold (ice bath) solution of 1 g of 4,7-dimethylbenzimidazole in 8 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid is added dropwise concentrated nitric acid (0.37 mL), over 50 minutes. The mixture is stirred an additional 30 minutes in the ice bath, then poured into a mixture of crushed ice (30 mL) and ammonium hydroxide (30 mL). The resulting mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is dried over magnesium sulfate and rotary evaporated to afford 4,7-dimethyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole as a dark tan solid.

Provenance & Evidence