N-methylpyrrolidine was successfully synthesized in an aqueous medium by using methylamine and 1,4-dibromobutane in the presence of catalyst K2CO3 at a moderated temperature. Here, N-methylpyrrolidine was firstly synthesized via the green chemistry process, in which both the water solvent and potassium carbonate catalyst were inexpensive and environmentally friendly. | Journal of Science and Technology 54 (2) (2016) 231-237 DOI: GREEN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS OF N-METHYLPYRROLIDINE Nguyen Van Hoa, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Phan Thanh Thao, Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen* Institute of Chemical Technology, VAST, 1 Mac Đinh Chi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City * Email: thanhhuyenkhtn@ Received: 25 August 2015; Accepted for publication: 30 November 2015 ABSTRACT N-methylpyrrolidine was successfully synthesized in an aqueous medium by using methylamine and 1,4-dibromobutane in the presence of catalyst K2CO3 at a moderated temperature. Here, N-methylpyrrolidine was firstly synthesized via the green chemistry process, in which both the water solvent and potassium carbonate catalyst were inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Also, the reaction temperature was quite moderated at 90 oC. As a result, the current synthesis process was highly potential to implement in practice. Since the product yield directly depended on the operating conditions, the catalysts, temperature, ratio of reactants and solvent would be critical factors. In the present study, the structure of Nmethylpyrrolidine product was confirmed by using the IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Keywords: tertiary amines, alkylation, aqueous media. 1. INTRODUCTION N-methylpyrrolidine is a versatile intermediate used mainly in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals cefepime. This heterocycle is an important component of the cefepime which determines pharmacokinetic parameters and the exchange of drugs in the human body [1]. The pyrrolidine ring structure is also present in many natural alkaloids such as nicotine and hygrine, etc. Since the N-methylpyrrolidine product is significant and has a wide application, many studies have already paid much attention to it in order to achieve the highest yield product. According to Champion et al [2], the N-methylpyrrolidine is synthesized via the reaction of N-methylpyrrolidone and hydrogen
