Imidazole → 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 17.6 g (0.258 mol) of imidazole in 100 mL of absolute EtOH was treated with 0.6 mL (4.0 mmol) of pyridine and refluxed for 25 minutes. This was then treated dropwise with a solution of 31.06 g (0.258 mol) of styrene oxide and the solution heated at reflux overnight. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue taken up in Et2O and washed with H2O. A solid separated which was collected and dissolved in warm CHCl3 /EtOAc. The organic phase was washed with saturated NaCl and dried over MgSO4. Treatment of the filtrate with charcoal, filtering, and concentrating to 1/3 volume caused a solid to separate. There was collected 17.09 g (35% yield) of the product as a white solid, mp 146-148° C. The structure was confirmed by NMR and mass spectroscopy. MS m/z 189 (M+H+).

Provenance & Evidence