Hydrochloric Acid → 2-(2-Nitrobenzyl)-imidazole

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Reaction Steps

Ethanol (2,200 ml) and5,156 g (8.81 moles) of ethyl 2-(2-nitrophenyl)acetimidate hydrochloride are charged into a 22 liter flask. The suspension is stirred under nitrogen at room temperature and 1022.9 g (9.73 moles) of aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal are added all at once. The mixture is stirred for 1 hour and 1,693 ml of 12N hydrochloric acid are added all at once to cause a gentle exotherm (to 40°). Heat is then applied and the temperature is maintained at 70°-80° for 30 minutes. The solution is cooled to 20° (ice-water bath) and diluted with 2,700 ml of 10N sodium hydroxide solution to precipitate the product. The suspension is stirred at 10° for 1 hour under nitrogen atmosphere, the solid collected by filtration and washed with 3×2,000 ml of water to give 2-(2-nitrobenzyl)imidazole, m.p. 155°-7°.

Provenance & Evidence