10.3987/COM-13-S(S)15
The study presents a new, environmentally friendly synthesis method for tofisopam, a 2,3-benzodiazepine type anxiolytic drug, which avoids the use of toxic chromium(VI) oxide reagents traditionally used in its production. The research focuses on replacing the hazardous chromium-based oxidation step with a lithiation-based approach to produce the key intermediate, a keto-ketal compound. The chemicals used in the study include (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acetone, bromine, lithium compounds (hexyllithium), 3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl chloride, and hydrazine, among others. These chemicals serve various purposes in the synthesis process, such as starting materials, reagents for protection and deprotection of functional groups, and agents for the lithiation and cyclization steps, ultimately leading to the formation of tofisopam without the environmental and health risks associated with chromium salts.