Formaldehyde → 1-[Bis(hydroxymethyl)-methyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of 2.5 moles of paraformaldehyde in 300 ml of methanol 1 mole (205.3 g) of 1-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline and subsequently freshly prepared sodium ethylate (1 g of sodium+50 ml of ethanol) are added at room temperature, with stirring. The reaction mixture is stirred for 5 to 6 hours, whereupon it is kept at 40° to 50 C.° for half an hour. The mixture is evaporated under reduced pressure and the obtained crystalline material is recrystallized from a mixture of acetone and ether. The aimed compound is obtained with a melting point of 129° to 131 C.°

Provenance & Evidence