Trequinsin demethylation

Demethylation of trequinsin (3) with a 65 35 mixture of AcOH and 48% HBr at 115 °C for 3 h gave mainly 10-hydroxyl derivatives 148 (R = r = H), which was accompanied by traces of its 9-hydroxyl and 9,10-dihydroxy derivatives. In boiling 48% HBr for 2 h its 9,10-dihydroxy derivative formed in 63% yield (98IJC(B)1). 9-Methoxy group of 3 and that of its 2-[(2,6-dimethyl-4-carboxyphenyl)imino] derivative 178 (R = COOH) was selectively demethylated by the treatment with 60% NaOH and EtSH in HMPA. Treatment of 3 with pyridine HCl in boiling pyridine for 20 min afforded its 9,10-dihydroxy-3-desmethyl derivative in 65% yield. 4 -Hydroxymethyl... 

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