News:

Registration doesn't require a real email.
Monero Donation Address: 897ESh4QoJgEytJueBPULziMDfNMToXkGMrvtUCJRo2NQRv2CXACHnmEzeMTkwQhnfcZsAc3ctXp6GsedhMfBv983rn5i84

Main Menu

H3PO2/Iodine causing N-Demethylation?

Started by Rhodium, November 25, 2003, 03:51:00 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Rhodium

The article gives no examples of N-demethylation of secondary amines, and usually the Hypophosphorous Acid/Iodine reduction of (pseudo)ephedrine is conducted under less harsh conditions, but this may be something to bear in mind...

Hypophosphorous Acid-Iodine: An Efficient and Mild Reagent for Cleavage of N–C Bond
Ge Meng, Yan-Ping He, and Fen-Er Chen

Synth. Commun. 33(15), 2593–2598 (2003)

(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/h3po2-i2.n-dealkylation.pdf)
DOI:

10.1081/SCC-120021978



Abstract
A mixture of hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2) and iodine in acetic acid can selectively cleave the N-alkyl bond in a variety of substituted heterocylic compounds in good to excellent yields without any damage to amide bond present in the substrates.

halfkast

Rhodium can you give one or two examples of secondary amines, and also what N-demethylation would do to those theoretically? (theoretically if it happened to work using this route)

Well, I'd know what the demethylation did from looking at the starting material, but I want you to choose one yo like!


Rhodium

I inferred that amphetamine could perhaps be formed from methamphetamine (which is an N-methylated secondary amine) if either the precursor (pseudo)ephedrine or the product was demethylated.

halfkast

fuck! a revelation, I didn't think that was possible, thanks!


WizardX

Rhodium stated:

I inferred that amphetamine could perhaps be formed from methamphetamine (which is an N-methylated secondary amine) if either the precursor (pseudo)ephedrine or the product was demethylated.




The -OH reduction of the ephedrine WILL predominate completely, before demethylation occurs.


halfkast

Wiz, are you saying that an ephedrine reduction using H3PO2, I2 and acetic will first reduce to methamphetamine, and then on to amphetamine?


WizardX

Yes! BUT ONLY under VERY EXTREME reaction condition. ie. very long reflux time.

Methamphetamine has a secondary amine, and this demethylation reagent will not be very effective.



A mixture of hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2) and iodine in acetic acid can selectively cleave the N-alkyl bond in a variety of substituted heterocylic compounds in good to excellent yields without any damage to amide bond present in the substrates.




Note that the demethylation of substrates are tertiary amines.