10.1021/op400113a
The study details an enhanced method for synthesizing trimethobenzamide hydrochloride (Ia), an antiemetic agent used to treat nausea. The researchers aimed to develop a process that avoids common impurities formed during the coupling of 4-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)benzyl amine (IV) with 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid (V). They experimented with various coupling reagents and found that N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) provided the best results. By optimizing the mole equivalents of CDI, they achieved a high-purity product without the need for column chromatography or repeated crystallization. The final process involved reacting 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid with CDI to form an intermediate, which was then coupled with 4-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)benzyl amine in the presence of potassium carbonate, yielding trimethobenzamide hydrochloride with a purity of =99.5% and a satisfactory yield.