1-Hydroxymethyl-1,2,4-triazole is useful in the synthesis of novel triazole compounds that have anti-fungal properties.
Step 1. Preparation of (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methanol
1H-1,2,4-triazole (7.04 g, 102 mmol) was mixed with paraformaldehyde (3.06 g, 102 mmol) and catalytic amount of triethylamine was added. The mixture was heated to a molten state (140°C) and stirred at this temperature for 0.5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 30 °C to give a white solid product (9.0 g, 89% yield).
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