![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
An efficient, simple, and mild preparation of the classical antibacterial agent trimethoprim (1) was achieved in 85% overall yield from 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (2). First, the addition of propenenitrile (3) with dimethylamine almost quantitatively afforded 3-dimethylaminopropanenitrile (7). Then, by condensation of 7 with 2 as well as the continuous replacement of 3-dimethylamino group with aniline in situ, the key intermediate 3-anilino-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)propenenitrile (9) was obtained in an excellent yield of 91% with a one-pot procedure. Finally, the cyclization of 9 with guanidine nitrate furnished 1 in yields as good as 95% in the presence of the excessive sodium methoxide.
Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 21176074) and Shandong Haoyuan Co. Ltd. for financial support.