Sodium borohydride → 2-Hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-formyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-5-[4-pyridyl]imidazole (0.830 g, 3.15 mmol) in MeOH at 0° C. was added NaBH4 (0.143 g, 3.78 mmol). The mixture was stirred at rt for 0.5 h when the solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was partitioned between CH2 Cl2 and H2O. The organic extract was washed with aqueous NaCl and dried (MgSO4). The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash chromatography eluting with 25:1 CH2Cl2 /MeOH. The title compound was obtained as a white solid (0.608 g, 73%): mp 236°-238° C.

Provenance & Evidence