2.4.6- Trimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine, formation

Even polyalkoxy-s-triazines are quite prone to nucleophilic substitution. For example, 2,4,6-trimethoxy-s-triazine (320) is rapidly hydrolyzed (20°, dilute aqueous alkali) to the anion of 4,6-dimethoxy-s-triazin-2(l )-one (331). This reaction is undoubtedly an /S jvr-4r2 reaction and not an aliphatic dealkylation. The latter type occurs with anilines at much higher temperatures (150-200°) and with chloride ion in the reaction of non-basified alcohols with cyanuric chloride at reflux temperatures. The reported dealkylation with methoxide has been shown to be hydrolysis by traces of water present. Several analogous dealkylations by alkoxide ion, reported without evidence for the formation of the dialkyl ether, are all associated with the high reactivity of the alkoxy compounds which ai e, in fact, hydrolyzed by usually tolerable traces of water. Brown ... 

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