HYDROGENATION OF SILYLATED PTERIDINES IN BENZENE SOLUTION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)86024-5

Hydrogenation of pteridines in benzene solution was investigated by solubilising them either as their trimethylsilyl or their 4-benzyloxy derivatives.Using a platinum catalyst, 6,7-dimethyl-4-trimethylsiloxy-2-trimethylsilylaminopteridine (2) could be converted to cis-6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin (3), provided that the 4-siloxy group was first selectively cleaved by water.The same silylated pteridine, (2), in anhydrous benzene with either Rh(DIOP)Cl or (1+)*ClO4(1-), underwent a novel de-silylation reaction to give 6,7-dimethylpterin, (1), with no reducation of the pyrazine ring.