SYNTHESIS OF KETONES AND METHANOLS CONTAINING PYRIDINYL AND N-METHYLIMIDAZOLYL GROUPS

N-Methylimidazolyllithium reacts with N-methylimidazole-2-carbaldehyde to form bis(N-methyl- imidazol-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)3COH, and bis(N- methylimidazol-2-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanol, (Py)(mim)2COH, respectively. © 1983 ASEG.<p></p>