Synthesis of Ketones and Methanols Containing Pyridinyl and N-Methylimidazolyl Groups

N-Methylimidazolyllithium reacts with N-methylimidazole-2-carbaldehyde to form bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol, and with the esters ethyl N-methylimidazole-2-carboxylate and ethyl pyridine-2-carboxylate to give bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanone, (mim)2CO, and (N-methylimidazol-2-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanone, (Py)(mim)CO, respectively. The ketones react with N-methylimidazolyllithium to give tris(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol,(mim)3COH, and bis(N-methylimidazol- 2-yl)(pyridin-2-y1)methanol(Py)(mim)2COH, respectively.