Acetic anhydride Bisacodyl

Bisa.codyl, 4,4 -(2-PyridyLmethylene)bisphenol diacetate [603-50-9] (Dulcolax) (9) is a white to off-white crystalline powder ia which particles of 50 p.m dia predominate. It is very soluble ia water, freely soluble ia chloroform and alcohol, soluble ia methanol and ben2ene, and slightly soluble ia diethyl ether. Bisacodyl may be prepared from 2-pyridine-carboxaldehyde by condensation with phenol and the aid of a dehydrant such as sulfuric acid. The resulting 4,4 -(pyridyLmethylene)diphenol is esterified by treatment with acetic anhydride and anhydrous sodium acetate. Crystallisation is from ethanol. 

Preparation of Bisacodyl 5 grams of (4,4 -dihydroxy-diphenyl)-(pyridyl-2)-methane are heated with 5 grams of anhydrous sodium acetate and 20 cc of acetic anhydride for three hours over a boiling waterbath. The cooled reaction mixture is poured into water, whereby after a while a colorless substance precipitates, which Is filtered off with suction, washed with water and recrystallized from aqueous ethanol. Colorless bright crystals, MP 138°C are obtained. 

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