Traube Purine Synthesis

The Traube purine synthesis is a multistep synthesis of purine derivatives from 4‐amino‐6‐hydroxypyrimidine or 4,6‐diaminopyrimidine involving the nitrosation at 5‐position, reduction of nitroso to amino group (by ammonium sulfide) and ring closure with formic acid (via 4‐amino‐5‐formamidopyrimidine) or chlorocarbonic ester. The pyrimidines of high purity as starting materials should be used for this reaction. Even under these conditions, purine derivatives are not always obtained because this reaction may undergo only the formylation at the 5‐amino group without further cyclization. The study also discusses the use of the sulfur‐containing derivatives under Mozingo condition. Furthermore, the study addresses the preparation of the purines (primarily xanthine derivatives). This reaction is the general method for the preparation of purine derivatives.