Nitrogen → 4-[1-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl]-Benzonitrile

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Reaction Steps

A solution of n-butyl lithium (25 mL of 2.1M reagent in hexane, 0.0525 mole) is added dropwise in an N2 atmosphere to a solution of di-isopropylamine (5.6 g) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) which is maintained at -20°. This cold solution is then added dropwise to a solution of 4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)benzonitrile (9.15 g) in tetrahydrofuran (250 mL) which is maintained at -50° during addition and for 30 minutes subsequently. The reaction mixture is then cooled to -70° and methyl iodide (10.7 g) is added, all at once. The reaction is stirred at -70° for 30 minutes and then without external cooling for 10 hours. The reaction is quenched by addition of water (300 mL) and extracted with diethyl ether (3×100 mL). The combined ether extracts are extracted with 3N hydrochloric acid (3×60 mL) and the acid extracts are made basic (pH 9) with 6N sodium hydroxide. The crude product is extracted into ether (3×60 mL), and after drying (MgSO4) and solvent evaporation, 4-[1-(1-imidazolyl)ethyl]benzonitrile is obtained. The crude material is dissolved in acetone and treated with ethereal HCl to afford the hydrochloride salt, m.p. 184°-186°.

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