A process for methylating the N4 atom of a polysubstituted piperazine or piperazin-2-one ("PSP") is effective despite using a much smaller molar excess of formaldehyde and formic acid than dictated by a conventional Eschweiler-Clarke reaction. Particularly in a complex amine in which the PSP substituent is connected to a triazine ring which in turn may be connected to a N atom of an acyclic polyamine, the molar ratio of NH groups : HCHO : HCOOH is in the range from about 1:1:1 to 1:1.5:1.5, the amount of HCHO and HCOOH being sufficient to methylate at least the
groups of said PSP substituent if the complex amine contains terminal -NH groups. The same range of molar ratio is maintained when the total number of NH groups to be methylated includes the terminal -NH groups. The effectiveness of the process is attributed to use of an alkylbenzene solvent in which reaction with only a slight excess of HCHO and HCOOH proceeds apace, and in which solvent the methylated product remains dissolved. The excess HCOOH is neutralized with aqueous alkali. When the solution of methylated product is washed with water, the partition coefficient is at least 0.90 and typically 0.99, so that less than 1% of methylated product is lost in the aqueous wash. More than 90% yield is obtained by harvesting the methylated product from the solvent phase alone. The methylated product is precipitated from the alkylbenzene solution by addition of a precipitating agent, such as heptane. The reaction may be carried out under essentially dry conditions with less than 3% water present; or, it may be carried out under wet conditons (less than 30% water).
一种将多取代
哌嗪或
哌嗪-2-酮("P
SP")的 N4 原子甲基化的工艺,尽管使用的
甲醛和
甲酸的摩尔过量比传统的埃施韦勒-克拉克反应小得多,但却很有效。特别是在 P
SP 取代基与
三嗪环相连的复合胺中,该
三嗪环又可与无环
多胺的 N 原子相连,NH 基团 : HCHO : HCOOH 的摩尔比范围约为 1:1:1 至 1:1.5:1.5,HCHO 和 HCOOH 的用量足以至少将所述 P
SP 取代基的基团甲基化。
如果复合胺含有末端 -NH 基团,则 HCHO 和 HCOOH 的用量至少足以将所述 P
SP 取代基的基团甲基化。当待甲基化的 NH 基团总数包括末端 -NH 基团时,摩尔比的范围保持不变。该工艺之所以有效,是因为使用了一种烷基苯溶剂,在这种溶剂中,只需少量过量的 HCHO 和 HCOOH 即可迅速发生反应,而甲基化产物仍溶解在溶剂中。过量的 HCOOH 用碱
水溶液中和。用
水洗甲基化产品溶液时,分配系数至少为 0.90,通常为 0.99,因此在
水洗过程中损失的甲基化产品不到 1%。仅从溶剂相中提取甲基化产品,可获得 90% 以上的产量。通过加入沉淀剂(如
庚烷),可从烷基苯溶液中析出甲基化产物。反应可在基本干燥的条件下进行,
水含量低于 3%;也可在湿润的条件下进行(
水含量低于 30%)。