Preparation of 4-substituted imidazoles from N-formyl-.alpha.-aminonitrile

US5359082A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Ulrich Koehler · Heidelberg, DE
• Thomas-Michael Kahl · Münstermaifeld, DE
• Horst Neuhauser · Dudenhofen, DE
• Hardo Siegel · Speyer, DE
• Michael Kroener · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 1993
• Grant date: Oct 25, 1994
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D521/00
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the preparation of 4-substituted imidazoles of the general formula ##STR1## in which R denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 cycloalkyl, aryl, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 aralkyl, wherein PA1 a) N-formyl-.alpha.-aminonitriles of the general formula I ##STR2## in which R has the meanings stated above and A stands for carbonyl, are reacted, at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 200.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 20 to 500 bar, with hydrogen in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts and PA1 b) the resulting N-formyl-1,2-diamines of the general formula ##STR3## in which R and A have the meanings stated above and n stands for 0 or 1, are reacted over a cyclization/dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature ranging from 200.degree. to 600.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 0.001 to 5 bar.