Synthesis of 9,9′-[1,2-Ethanediylbis(oxymethylene)]bis-2-amino-1,9-dihydro-6H-purin-6-one, an Impurity of Acyclovir

Abstract

The synthesis of 9,9'-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxymethylene)]bis-2-amino-1,9-dihydro-6H-purin-6-one, a minor impurity of acyclovir, is described. Starting with commercial N-(9-acetyl-6-oxo-1H-purin-2-yl)acetamide, the process uses an acid catalysed phase transfer catalysis (PTC) process to produce the selective alkylation at the 9 position of the guanine ring.