Synthesis and Application of Imidazole Derivatives. Synthesis of (1-Methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) methanol Derivatives and Conversion into Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

(1-Methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) methanol derivatives (4 and 7) were prepared by treating carbonyl compounds with 2-lithio-1-methyl-1H-imidazole (2) or by treating 2-acyl-1H-imidazoles (3) with organometallic reagents or sodium borohydride. The alcohols (4 and 7) were convertible into the carbonyl compounds via the corresponding quaternary salts (8 and 10). The stable (1-methyl-1 H-imidazol-2-yl) methanol system, R-C (OH) -C=N-CH=CH-NCH₃, can be regarded as a masked form of the carbonyl group as well as a synthon of the group.