Isobutyl 3,4-epoxybutyrate → Oxiracetam

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

19 g 2-(1-Methylethyl)imidazolidinone ((5); R4 =H, R5 =isopropyl) (0.15 moles) are dissolved in 100 ml water and 150 ml acetone. 2-Methylpropyl-3,4-epoxybutanoate (0.15 moles) are added and the mixture is heated and stirred for 48 h at 70° C. The acetone is evaporated in vacuo and 100 ml DMF are added, followed by boiling for 21 h. The mixture is reduced to a small volume in vacuo, the residue is taken up with 40 ml water and washed with 2×40 ml methylene chloride. The aqueous phase is evaporated to dryness and redissolved in 15 ml methanol. This is left to stand for 3 h at 0° C., filtered and dried to give oxiracetam as a white crystalline powder, m.p. 167°-70° C.

Provenance & Evidence