Ammonia → Acyclovir

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 2-chloro-9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)hypoxanthine (0.375 g) and methanol (80 ml) saturated with anhydrous ammonia was heated in a bomb at 125° C. for 5 hours. The bomb was cooled in an ice bath and the reaction mixture removed. Solvent and excess ammonia were removed under reduced pressure at 50° C. After the residue was triturated with cold water to remove the ammonium chloride formed, the remaining solid was dried and then recrystallized from methanol to give pure 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (0.24 g), m.p. 256.5°-257° C.

Provenance & Evidence