The World Health Organization lists Phenytoin as an Essential Medicine that is one of the most cost-effective anti-epileptic treatments available.  It is an important anti-epileptic drug (AED) that can be used in developing countries where about 85% of those affected with epilepsy live without treatment. Availability of phenytoin to local pharmacies or healthcare providers is limited due to low commercial production, political instabilities, and/or financial barriers.  This leaves many people who have epilepsy without treatment.  A more efficient and cost-effective method for supplying phenytoin to local clinics and medical personnel working in developing countries could alleviate some of these barriers.  The goal of this project was to develop a small-scale synthesis and purification procedure of phenytoin using base catalyzed addition of Urea to Benzil followed by Pinacol rearrangement. Verification of pharmaceutical grade purity was achieved by Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS).

Development of an economically feasible small-scale synthesis and purification of the medically important drug phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) for use in resource limited countries

ACS Fall 2021

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