Phosphorus oxychloride → 2-Amino-6-chloropurine

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of guanine (4.5g, 30 mmol), tetraethylammonium chloride (7.46 g, 45 mmol monohydrate, pre-dried), phosphorus oxychloride (16.5 ml) and acetonitrile (60 ml) was heated under reflux for 70 minutes and allowed to cool. The solid material was filtered off and suspended in water. The aqueous mixture was brought to alkaline pH with aqueous sodium hydroxide and back to pH 7 with dilute hydrochloric acid. Continuous extraction (24 hours) with ethyl acetate afforded 2-amino-6-chloropurine as a white solid (2.12 g, 42%).

Provenance & Evidence