Purine studies. XX. Approaches to the syntheses of 7,8- and 8,8-Dibenzyltheophylline

Abstract

Various routes for the synthesis of 7,8-dibenzyltheophylline have been explored including inter alla the attempted preparation of 8,8-dibenzyl(8H)theophylline as a possible subject for rearrangement to the 7,8-dibenzyl isomer. The propensity of benzyl groups to be eliminated from some of the intermediates encountered in this work is illustrated by examples further to those already given in an earlier paper of the series.