Alkylation by secondary alcohols. I. The reaction of xanthydrol with someN1-monosubstituted sulfanilamides and related compounds

Abstract

Sulfanilamides were found to undergo alkylation with xanthydrol, yielding either mono- or di-xanthenyl derivatives. The site of substitution, common to all sulfanilamides having a free p-amino group, was shown to be the N4-position in the sulfanilamide molecule. Three additional unique reactive sites were observed. Sulfanilamides carrying a thiazole, thiadiazole, or pyridazine substituent in the N1-position were also alkylated on the annular nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic ring, the reaction having occurred from the imido tautomeric form. Sulfisoxazole (IK), on the other hand, reacted from the amido form to give the N1,N4-dixanthenyl derivative. Sulfadimethoxine (Ih) was substituted at carbon, as well as at nitrogen, to yield N4-xanthenyl-N1-(2,6-dimethoxy-5-(9-xanthenyl)-4-pyrimidyl)sulfanilamide.Sulfanilamides possessing pKavalues of about 5.5 were found to be sufficiently acidic to catalyze their own reaction with xanthydrol, and no external catalyst was necessary. The exceptional ease of formation of the xanthylium ion was postulated to be associated with the resulting stability of this carbonium ion by virtue of its acquired aromatic character.