Synthesis of ketones and methanols containing pyridinyl and N-methylimidazolyl groups

Abstract

N-Methylimidazolyllithium reacts with N-methylimidazole-2-carbaldehyde to form bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol, and with the esters ethyl N-methylimidazole-2-carboxylate and ethyl pyridine-2-carboxylate to give bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanone,(mim)₂CO, and (N-methyl- imidazol-2-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanone, (Py)(mim)CO, respectively. The ketones react with N-methylimidazolyllithium to give tris(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol, (mim)₃ COH, and bis(N- methylimidazol-2-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanol (Py)(mim)₂ COH, respectively.