Guanidine → Trimethoprim

Participants

Reaction Steps

α-Diethoxymethyl-α-formyl-β-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) propionitrile (35.1 g, 0.10 mol) was added to an ethanolic solution of guanidine (from 0.35 mol of guanidine hydrochloride). The mixture was heated at reflux for a total of 6.5 hours during which time enough ethanol was allowed to boil off to bring the reaction temperature up to 85°. The dark solution was allowed to cool and stand overnight. The mixture was filtered, and the solid was washed with cold ethanol and dried to yield crude product (24.4 g, 84.1%). Purification was effected by dissolving the crude product in hot aqueous acetic acid and reprecipitation with concentrated ammonium hydroxide. The precipitate was washed twice with water, once with cold acetone, and dried to yield 2,4-diamino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidine (19.5 g, 67.2%), m.p. 197°-198° C. (identity confirmed by nmr). The acetone was concentrated in vacuo to dryness yielding additional though somewhat less pure trimethoprim (2,5 g, 8.6%, m.p. 194°-196° C.).

Provenance & Evidence