Phenytoin is an important antiepileptic drug (AED) that is used in impoverished areas around the world. The purpose of this project was to improve the small-scale synthesis of Phenytoin for possible practical use in these areas. Phenytoin was first synthesized in 1908 by the Biltz synthesis, which involves base catalyzed addition of urea to benzil followed by Pinacol rearrangement to form Phenytoin. The outcome of this research resulted in two important procedural improvements over the previous technique. One, modification of the reflux time from ninety minutes to a range of sixty minutes to two hours and two, the method of dissolving benzil in absolute ethanol or methanol before refluxing begins. These changes resulted in an increase in total percent yield, and the total synthesis can now be achieved within a three to four-hour time frame. Phenytoin product verification can be readily established using traditional spectroscopic/spectrometric methods.

Improvements to the small-scale synthesis of the pharmaceutical phenytoin

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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