1-Methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole-2-methanol

50-00-0

3034-42-2

936-05-0

In a sealed glass tube, formaldehyde (1 g, 33.54 mmol) and 1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (4a) (1 g, 7.8 mmol) were dissolved in DMSO (5 mL). The reaction tube was heated in an oil bath at 140°C for 48 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into water (5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 5 mL). The organic phases were combined and dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, followed by concentration under reduced pressure to remove the solvent to give the crude product. The crude product was purified by recrystallization via THF/heptane (1:1) mixed solvent to afford the target product 1-methyl-5-nitro-2-hydroxymethylimidazole (5a) (0.76 g, 62% yield) in white powder form. The melting point of the product was 117°C.