A simple, safe and efficient synthesis of Tyrian purple (6,6'-Dibromoindigo)

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules15085561

6,6'-Dibromoindigo is a major component of the historic pigment Tyrian purple, arguably the most famous dye of antiquity. Over the last century, chemists have been interested in developing practical syntheses of the compound We describe herein a new, reasonably simple and efficient synthesis of Tyrian purple which opens the way to the production of large quantities of the dye with minimal hazards and at low cost.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules15085561

Molecules 2010, 15, 5561-5580; doi:10.3390/molecules15085561
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molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
A Simple, Safe and Efficient Synthesis of Tyrian Purple
(6,6′-Dibromoindigo)
Joel L. Wolk * and Aryeh A. Frimer *
Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: wallach@mail.biu.ac.il (J.L.W.);
Frimea@mail.biu.ac.il (A.A.F.); Tel.: +972-3-5318610; Fax: +972-3-7384053.
Received: 18 June 2010; in revised form: 3 August 2010 / Accepted: 5 August 2010 /
Published: 12 August 2010
Abstract: 6,6’-Dibromoindigo is a major component of the historic pigment Tyrian purple,
arguably the most famous dye of antiquity. Over the last century, chemists have been
interested in developing practical syntheses of the compound We describe herein a new,
reasonably simple and efficient synthesis of Tyrian purple which opens the way to the
production of large quantities of the dye with minimal hazards and at low cost.
Keywords: 6,6’-dibromoindigo; Tyrian purple; synthesis
1. Introduction
6,6’-Dibromoindigo (1, Scheme 1) is a major component of the historic pigment Tyrian purple, and
is arguably the most famous dye of antiquity [1,2].
Scheme 1. Structure of 6,6’-dibromoindigo (1, Tyrian purple).
H
N
O
Br
N
H
Br
O
1

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From ancient times the dye has been produced from secretions of various species of snails found off
the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Due to the minute amounts of dye found in the snails, the dye
has always been very costly. Paul Friedländer, who in 1909 first identified the structure of the dye as
6,6′-dibromoindigo, required 12,000 Murex brandaris snails to produce 1.4 g of pure pigment [3].
Ever since the dye was identified, chemists have been interested in developing practical syntheses
of the compound [4]. However, all known syntheses are either lengthy, inefficient, or involve
expensive or hazardous starting materials or reagents. Synthetic Tyrian purple is commercially
available today, but at a price nearly as high as the natural pigment. A chemical synthesis of
reasonable length, cost and safety is, therefore, still a very desirable research goal. In particular, we are
interested in a synthesis which is amenable to production of relatively large amounts of the compound
in an undergraduate student laboratory. This paper describes our efforts in developing a new, more
attractive synthesis of Tyrian purple.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Preparation of Tyrian purple from 4-bromo-2-nitrobenzaldehyde
Our initial efforts toward synthesis of Tyrian purple (1) centered around use of 4-bromo-2-
nitrobenzaldehyde (6) as the key intermediate (Scheme 2).
Scheme 2. First synthetic scheme for the preparation of dibromoindigo (1).
NH2
NO2
NH2
NO2
HBr, H2O2
EtOH, 50ºC
1. HCl, NaNO2
2. H2C=NOH, CuSO4, Na2SO3
Br
2
4
3
80%
CHO
OH
N
Fe(NH4)(SO4)2
NaOMe
+
CH3NO2
Br
NO2
Br
NO2
O-Na+
NO2
Br
NO2
6
5
62%
85:15
79%
H
O
Br
NO2
NO2
N
+
NaOH
N
Br
NO2
Na2S2O4
Br
Br
O
8
7
H
1
63%
10% overall from 6
The traditional syntheses of 6 involve the use of p-toluidine [5], o-nitrotoluene [6], or their
derivatives as starting materials or intermediates. Due to the toxicity and possible carcinogenicity of
these compounds, we initially chose the Beech synthesis [7,8] instead, starting from o-nitroaniline (2).

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In the first step of this synthesis, we prepared 4-bromo-2-nitroaniline (3), following the procedure
of Inoue and coworkers [9,10] in which an excess of HBr and H2O2 with respect to 2 was used for the
bromination. In our hands, however, this led to a mixture of 3 and a dibrominated side product, which
we were unable to separate. We, therefore, adopted the optimized procedure of Islam et al. [11] in
which H2O2 is added at 50 ºC to 3 in the presence of a slight excess of HBr in ethanol. When the
amount of solvent was adjusted suitably, practically pure product, in yields of up to 80%, precipitated
out from the reaction mixture upon cooling.
In the second step, 4-bromo-2-nitroaniline (3) is converted to 4-bromo-2-nitrobenzaldehyde (6). To
this end, we first prepared a formaldoxime solution as prescribed by Beech [12,13]. However,
diazotization of 3 in aqueous HCl [12,14] presented difficulties, as was earlier reported by Frejka and
Vymetal [15]. We found it necessary to first prepare a homogeneous, finely divided suspension of the
aniline hydrochloride by vigorous stirring, before adding the sodium nitrite solution. Subsequent
reaction of the diazonium salt of 3 with CuSO4, Na2SO3 and formaldoxime in an acetate buffer gave a
79% crude yield of benzaldoxime 4, contaminated with about 15% m-bromonitrobenzene (5). Similar
formation of reduced byproduct in this reaction has been previously reported by Woodward and
coworkers [16]. The oxime 4 was cleaved to 6 by boiling with excess ferric ammonium sulfate
[5,12,17] in 62% crude yield. Other reagents for cleavage of the oxime gave inferior results. Thus,
hexamethylenetetramine-bromine [18] gave 43% of crude 8 based on the crude oxime, while
ozonolysis [19] gave only 35% of 6. Reaction with buffered NaOCl [20] led largely to Hoffmann
degradation and regeneration of the starting aniline 3, while reflux with anhydrous FeSO4 [21] in
acetonitrile gave no reaction.
In the final step, the benzaldehyde 6 was transformed into dibromoindigo 1 by the Harley-Mason
procedure [22], as applied by Voss and Gerlach [23] and by Cooksey [24]. Thus, reaction of 6 with
nitromethane and sodium methoxide in methanol gave a 63% yield of the crude sodium
nitrophenylethoxide salt 7. However, in our hands this intermediate proved to be labile towards
dehydration to a red side product, presumably the respective nitrostyrene (8). It is known that the
initial β-nitroalcohols formed in the Henry reaction readily undergo dehydration under the basic
reaction conditions to form nitroolefins [25]. Thus, reduction with basic sodium dithionite afforded
only a 10% yield of crude 1 based on the starting benzaldehyde 6.
As an alternative means of synthesizing benzaldehyde 6, we attempted to apply the method of Li
and Liu [26] of converting benzylic methyl groups to the respective aldehydes using potassium
permanganate and triethylamine in the presence of sulfuric acid. This method was reported to give
good yields of aldehydes from toluenes with electron withdrawing substituents. In our hands, however,
both a model experiment on 2-nitrotoluene with this reagent, as well as experiments with 4-
bromotoluene, gave no reaction.
2.2. Tyrian purple preparation from derivatives of 4-bromo-2-aminobenzoic acid (11)
In view of the tedious procedures and low yields obtained in the synthesis of 1 by way of 4-bromo-
2-nitrobenzaldehyde (6), we next searched for an efficient synthesis of 4-bromo-2-aminobenzoic acid
(11) as a starting material in the Friedländer procedure [3,27,28]. In our first efforts, we attempted to
reproduce the Waldmann synthesis [29] of 11 by the Hofmann degradation of 4-bromophthalimide

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(10). Thus, reaction of 4-bromophthalic anhydride (9) with urea at 135–140 ºC gave an 88% yield of
10. However, subsequent Hofmann degradation of 10 produced an inseparable mixture of 11 and 5-
bromo-2-aminobenzoic acid (12), in which the latter isomer predominated slightly (Scheme 3).
Scheme 3. Waldmann approach [29] to 4-bromo-2-aminobenzoic acid (11).
O
O
NaOH
NaOCl
CO(NH2)2
NH
O
Br
Br
10
88%
O
9
O
Br
COOH
NH2
COOH
NH2
+
Br
44:56
12
11
46% total
We therefore turned our efforts to a search for an efficient synthesis of the substituted
phenylglycine 13 by Ullmann condensation [30,31 of glycine (14) with a suitable substrate, as outlined
in Scheme 4.
Scheme 4. Ullmann condensation approach to phenylglycine.
COOH
?
+
H2NCH2COOH
14
NHCH2COOH
Br
13
The first substrate chosen for this reaction was 4-bromo-2-chlorobenzoic acid (15; see Scheme 4).
This compound is available commercially, but quite expensive. We initially envisaged preparing it by
chlorination of 4-bromotoluene (16), which has been reported to give largely 4-bromo-2-chlorotoluene
(17) [32,33], and subsequent oxidation of the methyl group. However, prolonged standing of a solution
of 16 and chlorine in Freon 113 (b.p. 47.7 ºC), a solvent similar in its properties to carbon tetrachloride
used for halogenations [34], gave no reaction.
We, therefore, prepared the acid by Sandmeyer reaction [35,36] of 4-amino-2-chlorobenzoic acid
(18). However, this reaction also gave an unidentified high-melting side product, and the desired
product was obtained in 52% yield only after tedious chromatographic purification. Subsequent
Ullmann condensation of 15 with 14 in aqueous solution, with catalysis by either copper
powder[37,38] or CuCO3·Cu(OH)2 basic copper carbonate [39], gave modest yields of N-(4-
carboxyphenyl)glycine (19), in which the ring bromine was replaced and the chlorine atom reduced.
None of the desired product 13, derived from displacement of the ortho chlorine atom, was detected
(Scheme 5).

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Scheme 5. Unsuccessful approaches to phenylglycine 13.
COOH
Cl
COOH
side product
1. NaNO2, HBr
2. CuBr, HBr
+
H2N
Br
Cl
18
15
52%
COOH
COOH
KOH, K2CO3
+ H2NCH2COOH
CuCO3·Cu(OH)2
14
HOOCCH2NH
Br
Cl
15
19
15%
Since it turned out that 4-bromo-2-chlorobenzoic acid (18) did not undergo Ullmann condensation
to give 13, we accordingly devoted our efforts to preparing the latter by a similar reaction of
2,4-dibromobenzoic
acid
(20).
We
considered
preparing
this
compound
from
2,4-dibromoacetophenone (21). For synthesis of the latter we first investigated the possible use of HBr
and dimethylsulfoxide to effect an ortho bromination of 4-bromoacetophenone (22), analogous to the
synthesis of 2-bromobenzaldehyde from benzaldehyde with this reagent as reported by Srivastava et
al. [40] However, with this reagent, only bromination of the α carbon was observed in the product
mixture yielding 23 and no 2,4-dibromoacetophenone (21) (Scheme 6). Furthermore, no reaction at all
was observed between this reagent and either 4-bromobenzoic acid or 4-bromobenzaldehyde.
Scheme 6. Bromination of bromacetophenone with HBr in DMSO.
COCH3
COCH3
Br
COCH2Br
HBr, (CH3)2SO
Br
Br
Br
22
21
0%
23
19%
We also considered preparing 20 by oxidation of 2,4-dibromotoluene (24), and attempted to
synthesize the latter by bromination of p-bromotoluene (16) using a “positive bromine” species
generated from potassium [41,42] or sodium bromate [43,44] in a sulfuric acid medium. However,
these experiments gave mixtures of products, in which ring brominated products were accompanied by
large amounts of benzylic brominated compounds.
For a cleaner synthesis of 2,4-dibromoacetophenone (21), we therefore turned to the Friedel-Crafts
acetylation of p-dibromobenzene (25) (Scheme 7), notwithstanding the conflicting reports on the
products of this reaction in the literature [45-51].

Molecules 2010, 15
Scheme 7. Second synthetic scheme for the preparation of dibromoindigo (1).
5566
O
Br
COCH3
CO2H
CO2H
COCH3
CH3CCl
AlCl3
Br
+
+
KMnO4
NaOH
Br
Br Br
Br
Br Br
25
21
22
26
low yield
20
82%
74% (89:11)
+ H2NCH2COOH
COOH
NaOAc, Ac2O
Br
KOH, K2CO3
Cu, CuI
14
NHCH2COOH
13
89%
H
N
OAc
O
Br
NaOH, O2
N
N
H
Br
Br
1
70%
27
70%
O
Ac
Thus, reaction of 25 with acetyl chloride and aluminum chloride, according to the procedure of
Troyanov and Dibinskaya [46], indeed gave a 64% yield of the desired product (21). This was proven
conclusively by 2D NMR spectroscopy, in which HMBC showed a correlation between the o,p split
ring proton and the carbonyl carbon. The product was accompanied by 20% of a fraction which was
identified as mainly p-bromoacetophenone (22). When the reactants were used in the proportions as
prescribed by Polívka et al. [50], 2,4-dibromoacetophenone 21 was isolated in 70-74% yield and was
found to be 89% pure, the remainder being 22. We also performed the acetylation using acetic
anhydride [45,52,53]; however, while the product appeared to be cleaner, the isolated yields were
lower (48-63%) and the crude mixture contained a little more 22 (20-25%).
The acetyl group of the dibromoacetophenone 21 was oxidized by basic permanganate, following
the procedures of Gibson and Levin[47] and later workers [45,54,55], except that instead of filtering
off the precipitate of manganese dioxide after the reaction, it was decomposed by bisulfite and sulfuric
acid [56]. This procedure gave good yields (68-82%) of 2,4-dibromobenzoic acid (20), although the
crude product was contaminated by small amounts of p-bromobenzoic acid (26), and some unreacted
starting material was recovered when the oxidation was run on a larger scale.
Ullmann condensation of 20 with 2 equivalents of glycine (14), catalyzed by a mixture of copper
powder and cuprous iodide [57-59], proceeded vigorously at 50–60 ºC and led to high yields (up to
89% crude) of the phenylglycine 13. Use of cuprous iodide alone, or performing the reaction at lower
temperatures, led to a sluggish and incomplete reaction. The product was, however, contaminated with
the impurities in the starting material, primarily p-bromobenzoic acid (26).
The phenylglycine 13 was converted to 6-bromodiacetylindoxyl (27) by a Claisen condensation as
previously reported [28,60-63]. Workup by precipitation from the crude reaction mixture [60] gave a
70% total crude yield based on starting material, while workup on a larger scale by evaporation of the

Molecules 2010, 15
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solvent [28,61] was fraught with technical difficulties and a lower isolated yield was obtained.
Hydrolysis of the diacetylindoxyl 27 to Tyrian purple (1) was carried out with sodium hydroxide as
originally reported by Friedländer and coworkers [28]. When pure 27 was used as the starting material,
nearly quantitative yields of 1 were obtained, while use of crude 27 gave yields of 66 to 70%.
2.3. Discussion
In this work we have presented two new synthetic pathways to Tyrian purple (1), both of which
offer significant advantages over previous approaches. Both routes are shorter and more efficient than
those previously reported, and avoid the use of highly toxic or expensive reagents. The heart of the
first route, Scheme 1, is a short and efficient three-step synthesis of 4-bromo-2-nitrobenzaldehyde (6)
from o-nitroaniline (2). This involves the bromination of 2 and subsequent conversion of the
intermediate 4-bromo-2-nitroaniline (3) to 6 by the Beech aldehyde synthesis. However, the Beech
synthesis is a rather cumbersome procedure and is attended by the formation of significant amounts of
reduced product from the intermediate diazonium salt.
Potentially attractive alternatives to this route might be found in Keinan’s regioselective nitration of
p-bromotoluene (16) [64], or Otake’s regioselective bromination of o-nitrotoluene (28) in the presence
of zeolites [65], to give 4-bromo-2-nitrotoluene (29), followed by condensation and oxidation [66-69]
of the latter to give 8. However, even with these potential innovations, this route suffers from the
inherently inefficient final condensation of 6 with acetone. Even the improved yields reported by
Imming [70] with the Harley-Mason procedure [22] for the condensation require strict control of
reaction conditions and do not afford a better quality of product.
More attractive, in our opinion, is our five step synthesis of Tyrian purple (1), starting from p-
dibromobenzene (25; Scheme 6). The reactions are simple, low cost, safe, high yield procedures. The
first step involves the Friedel-Crafts acetylation of p-dibromobenzene (25) producing 2′,4′-
dibromoacetophenone (21) as reported by Troyanov and Dibinskaya [46]. (This is in contrast to the
reports of other workers that 4′-bromoacetophenone (22) or 2′,5′-dibromoacetophenone are the product
of this reaction [45,47-51]). However, whether we used acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride as the
acetylating reagent, we invariably obtained the monobromoacetophenone 22 as a side product. The
latter is due to the small quantities of bromobenzene present in the reaction mixture, formed by AlCl3-
mediated disproportionation of the starting material [71-74]. This side product is oxidized along with
the main product in the subsequent step and, therefore, poses a problem in the workup. We note that
performing the initial Friedel-Crafts reaction on m-dibromobenzene (30) using a preformed complex of
acetyl chloride and aluminum chloride (the Perrier procedure [75,76]), would eliminate the formation
of these side products. Nevertheless, the 20-fold greater cost of m- over p-dibromobenzene seems to
outweigh the desire for a slightly higher yield and cleaner product.
The second step, oxidation of 2′,4′-dibromoacetophenone (21) to 2,4-dibromobenzoic acid (20), is
quite straightforward. The alkaline permanganate oxidation is a standard procedure and the workup is
simplified by decomposing the precipitate of manganese dioxide [56].
This is followed in the third step by the Ullmann condensation of 2,4-dibromobenzoic acid (20)
with glycine (14) to give the bromocarboxyphenylglycine 13, which is definitely the novel, key
reaction in this synthesis. While the general condensation of 2,4-dihalobenzoic acids with glycine is

Molecules 2010, 15
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listed among the claims of a recent patent [77], in practice only 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (31) has been
tried and not the dibromo analogue 20 [38,39]. While the displacement of chlorine has typically been
performed in aqueous systems at reflux temperatures, bromine is a much more reactive leaving group.
Thus the reaction of 20 with ammonia in a biphasic water-ethyl acetate system was reported to be
exothermic at room temperature, giving 4-bromoanthranilic acid (11) in 91% yield [78]. Another
factor governing the reaction is the pH. In the condensations with 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (31) in
water, it was found that the optimal results were obtained at pH 9 which minimizes reaction with the
solvent and formation of chlorosalicylic acid as a side product [38]. The nature and amount of base
added to the mixture also have an effect of the outcome of the Ullmann condensation [57,70-82]. Thus,
a 95% yield of 2-carboxymethylamino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (32) was reported in aqueous solution
when sodium carbonate was the sole base used [77]. Nonaqueous solvents have also been used in order
to suppress the formation of salicylic acids as side products [39,59,80-82]. Variations in the procedure
such as these might well be considered in efforts to optimize the reaction.
In our work the condensation of 20 with glycine was done in an aqueous system according to the
original procedure for the preparation of phenylglycine-o-carboxylic acid (33) from the salt of o-
chlorobenzoic acid (34) [37], except that two equivalents of potassium carbonate and a mixture of
copper powder and cuprous iodide as catalysts were used [57,59,80]. Under these conditions the
reaction was vigorous at 50–60 ºC and led to crude yields of 13 of up to 89%; however, these high
yields often contained substantial quantities of unreacted starting material as well as p-bromobenzoic
acid (26). Copper powder was essential for catalysis and the reaction did not proceed significantly in
the presence of cuprous iodide alone. In view of the general consensus that a Cu(+1) species is the
active catalyst [57,83,84], we may reason that the oxide layer on the metallic copper might be a more
readily available source of soluble liganded Cu(+1) ions [84] than the cuprous iodide.
The fourth step involves the Claisen condensation of 13 to give the bromodiacetylindoxyl 27. This
reaction has always been performed with sodium acetate as the base in acetic anhydride as the solvent.
The reaction is rapid near the boiling point of the solvent and is easily monitored by the evolution of
carbon dioxide which accompanies it. The principal difficulties attend the workup and isolation of the
product. In the original procedure [28,61], the solvent is removed and the residue washed with water to
remove the sodium salts from the crude product. In our hands this led to a gummy residue which was
difficult to work with, and to reduced yields. In view of the report that longer heating increases tar
formation [61], it seems advisable to isolate the product by precipitation, either by cooling the reaction
mixture [60] or by adding water without evaporating the solvent [63]. Using a combination of these
methods, we indeed obtained a 70% yield of crude, isolated product. We note that the 5-bromo isomer
has been prepared in 75% yield using a short reaction time and an aqueous workup[85,86]; the 6-
chloro analogue has been prepared in about 50% yield after precipitating the product from the crude
reaction mixture by cooling [87].
The final step involves the hydrolysis and oxidation of the diacetylindoxyl 27, which gave very
high yields of Tyrian purple (1) when pure starting material was used. Due to the low solubility of the
product, it cannot be extracted and is therefore usually purified either by recrystallization [24,28] or by
washing with several solvents[23,29]. We washed the product as did Voss and Gerlach [23], and found
that only negligible amounts of product are lost in the washings. However, not all the washings may be
necessary since substituted indigos may also be purified by sublimation [88].

Molecules 2010, 15
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The overall yield of Tyrian purple in our five step synthesis was about 25%, based on the starting p-
dibromobenzene (25), and has yet to be fully optimized. Although this yield is lower than that
achieved by Voss and Gerlach for their synthesis starting from the same compound [23], our procedure
has the advantage of not requiring special techniques such as low temperatures or strictly anhydrous
conditions, and is therefore amenable for student labs and industrial production of larger quantities.
Our yield is also substantially greater than that reported recently by Imming and coworkers (10%) in
their optimized synthesis starting from p-toluidine [70], and moreover our procedure does not use
highly toxic or possibly carcinogenic reagents.
In summary, we have developed a new, reasonably simple and efficient synthesis of Tyrian purple
which we believe has the potential of providing large quantities of the dye with minimal hazards and at
low cost.
3. Experimental
General
Chemicals and solvents were used as received unless otherwise specified. Melting points were
taken on a Hoover melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. NMR spectra were taken in CDCl3 on
a Bruker Avance/DPX 300 MHz Digital NMR Spectrometer, unless otherwise specified. Chemical
shifts (δ) are given in ppm.
4-Bromo-2-nitroaniline (3) [11]. To o-nitroaniline (3, 10.0 g, 0.0724 mol) in a 500 mL R.B. flask fitted
with a thermometer and magnet stirring bar was added a solution of 48% HBr
(8.8 mL, 0.0773 mol) in H2O (42 mL), followed by additional H2O (48 mL). The mixture was stirred
at 50–55 ºC and enough 95% EtOH (about 90 mL) was added to give a clear red solution. Then 30%
H2O2 (13.5 mL, 0.136 mol) was added dropwise over 15 min through an addition funnel at 50 ºC. By
the end of the addition, the mixture was cloudy and orange, and a heavy red liquid separated out and
presently solidified after the addition of a few more mL of EtOH. The mixture was stirred at 50 ºC for
an additional 95 min and then cooled in ice to 20 ºC and filtered. Orange crystals were obtained and
washed with 3 × 50 mL H2O and dried overnight in air. Yield 12.41 g (0.0571 mol, 80%), m.p.
1
105–106 ºC (lit. [89] 112-113 ºC). H-NMR: ~6.00 (b), 6.73 (d, J = 9 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (dd, J = 2, 9 Hz,
1H), 8.27 (d, J = 2 Hz, 1H). The product was 99% pure 3 with up to 1% unreacted 2. Evaporation of
the mother liquors furnished 1.87 g of orange to slightly yellow solids which NMR showed to contain
mostly unreacted 2 and about 10% 3.
4-Bromo-2-nitrobenzaldoxime (4) [12,14]. A mixture of paraformaldehyde (2.58 g, 0.086 mol),
recrystallized hydroxylamine hydrochloride (6.05 g, 0.086 mol) and H2O (38 mL) was stirred at
100 ºC for 5 min until a clear solution of formaldoxime hydrochloride was obtained. Then, sodium
acetate trihydrate (11.70 g, 0.086 mol) was added and the mixture was refluxed for 15 min. The clear
solution was cooled in ice. In the meantime, 4-bromo-2-nitroaniline (3, 9.36 g, 0.0431 mol) was placed
in a 250 mL R.B. flask and 32% HCl (17 mL) was added, followed by H2O (42.5 mL). The mixture
was stirred vigorously by magnet for 1 h until a homogeneous yellow orange precipitate was obtained,

Molecules 2010, 15
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and then cooled to -1 ºC in an ice-salt bath. A solution of sodium nitrite (3.04 g, 0.0434 mol) in 8.5 mL
H2O was added with stirring at -2 to 2 ºC over a period of 1 h. More H2O was added until a thin, pale
orange mixture was obtained. Stirring was continued 3 more hours at 0 to 5 ºC and the mixture was
filtered with ice-water cooling to give a nearly clear yellow solution.
In the meantime, the formaldoxime hydrochloride solution was transferred to a 500 mL 3-necked
R.B. flask cooled in an ice-water bath. Cupric sulfate pentahydrate (2.15 g, 0.00861 mol) and 0.17 g of
anhydrous sodium sulfite (0.0013 mol) were added, followed by a solution of 27.6 g of sodium acetate
trihydrate (0.203 mol) in 32.5 mL H2O. The resulting deep green mixture was stirred with ice-water
cooling. The filtered diazonium solution was neutralized, while still cooled in ice water, with a
solution of sodium acetate trihydrate (a total of 13.28 g, 0.0976 mol) in about 20 mL H2O, giving a
reddish purple color with Congo Red paper and a pH of about 3. The neutralized solution was
introduced into the stirred formaldoxime solution, at 3 to 5 ºC over a period of about 105 min, through
a Pasteur pipette suspended about the middle neck of the flask and extending below the surface of the
liquid. This resulted in an instantaneous evolution of gas and formation of a deep green foam. The
cloudy green mixture was then stirred for an additional 2 h at 8 to 10 ºC and then allowed to come to
room temperature. The mixture was acidified by the addition of a few mL of concentrated HCl until a
blue color was obtained on Congo Red paper. A greenish brown fine oil settled out in the bottom of the
flask. The mixture was extracted with about 200 mL of ethyl ether in several portions, and the tarry
material that separated out was extracted again several times until the aqueous layer was no longer
green. Evaporation of the combined ether extracts gave 16 g of a semisolid brown oil, which in turn
was eluted in ether through 100 g of neutral alumina. Evaporation of the eluate gave the desired 4-
bromo-2-nitrobenzaldoxime (4, 8.25 g, 0.034 mol, 79% crude yield) as an orange solid with a strong
odor of acetic acid. 1H-NMR: 7.77, 7.84, 8.21, 8.63. The spectrum of the crude product indicates that it
1
also contains about 13% 1-bromo-3-nitrobenzene (5); H-NMR: 7.45 (dt, J = 0.3, 8.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H),
7.84 (ddd, J = 1.0, 2.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.18 (ddd, J = 1.0, 2.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.40 (dt, J = 0.3, 2.0, 2.0 Hz, 1H).
4-Bromo-2-nitrobenzaldehyde (6) [6,12,17]. Crude oxime 4 (4.91 g, 0.020 mol) was placed in a
125 mol 3-necked R.B. flask, followed by 40.0 g of ferric ammonium sulfate dodecahydrate (0.083
mol) and 60 mL H2O. The brown mixture was stirred under reflux for 90 min with heating in an oil
bath at 125 ºC. TLC (1:1 ether-petroleum ether) showed no starting material was left. Steam was
generated by boiling water in a 1 l filter flask and introduced into the reaction flask, which was set up
for steam distillation with a splash guard and heated at 135 to 150 ºC. The distillate was initially a
cloudy light yellow, but subsequently solidified to a yellow solid in the condenser. The distillation was
stopped after 5½ h, at which point 300 mL of distillate had been collected. After cooling, the distillate
was extracted with 4 × 40 mL of ethyl ether. The aqueous distillation residue was also extracted with
2 × 40 mL of ethyl ether. TLC shows product in both ether fractions. The latter fraction was
evaporated to give a brown oil (1.7 g) which was eluted through 50 g of silica gel with 1:1 ethyl ether-
petroleum ether to give very impure product (1.42 g). Attempted purification of this material through
the bisulfite addition compound gave no significant amount of product. The ether extract of the steam
distillate yielded a semisolid yellow product (2.85 g, 0.0124 mol, 62% crude yield), which could be
partially crystallized from warm ethanol. 1H-NMR:  7.85 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (ddd, J = 0.3, 1.8,
8.3 Hz, 1H), 8.27 (d, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 10.39 (d, 0.3 Hz, 1H).

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6,6′-Dibromoindigo (1) from 4-bromo-2-nitrobenzaldehyde (6) [23,24]. The crude benzaldehyde 6
(2.85 g, 0.0124 mol) in concentrated ethanol solution was dissolved in 20 mL of absolute methanol
(distilled from magnesium) in a 100 mL 3-necked R.B. flask under nitrogen. nitromethane (Aldrich,
95%, 0.82 mL, 0.015 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred at -1 to 0 ºC in an ice water-salt bath.
Then a cooled solution sodium methoxide (Fluka, 95%, 0.81 g, 0.015 mol) in 10 mL of absolute
methanol was added dropwise over 10 min at -2 to -1 ºC. The solution turned dark red and was stirred
30 min at -1 to 0 ºC and then 1 hr at 18.5 ºC. After about 30 min a yellow solid precipitated out, along
with a small amount of a red solid which floated on the orange solution. Ether (35 mL) was added and
the solid filtered and washed with more ether (35 mL). More red solids appeared in the filtrate and the
reaction flask. A total of 2.44 g (0.0078 mol, 63%) of mixed red and yellow solids were obtained.
These, together with the concentrated filtrate, were taken up into a solution of sodium hydroxide
(1.5 g, 0.0375 mol) in 65 mL, giving a dark red brown aqueous phases and a light orange ether phase.
The phases were separated and the aqueous phase extracted with 2 × 20 mL of ether. The aqueous
phase was cooled to 0 ºC, diluted with 10 mL water, and 70% sodium dithionite (8.7 g, 0.035 mol) was
added in small portions over 15 min at 0 to 5 ºC. The mixture turned purple and a dark precipitate
began to form. The temperature gradually rose to 21 ºC. Air was bubbled through the mixture for about
30 min. The fine solids were filtered, washed with a total of about 150 mL H2O, followed by
3 × 40 mL of ethanol and 2 × 40 mL of ether; the washings were brown. The product (0.260 g,
0.000619 mol, 10% overall yield from benzaldehyde 6) was collected as a fine precipitate which clung
to the filter paper.
4-Bromophthalimide (10) [29]. 4-bromophthalic anhydride (9, 5.68 g, 0.0250 mol) and urea (1.50 g,
0.025 mol) were ground up and placed in a 100 mL R.B. flask. The mixture was heated in an oil bath
at 135–140 ºC. The mixture melted and evolved gas, and after 15 min a pale yellow solid was
obtained. The mixture was cooled and dissolved in 25 mL of dimethylformamide with gentle warming
to give a clear yellowish solution. To this was added with stirring 60 mL of H2O, giving a fine white
precipitate. The latter was filtered, washed with 40 mL H2O, and dried in a vacuum to give essentially
1
pure 4-bromophthalimide (10, 4.95 g, 0.0219 mol, 88% yield). H-NMR:  7.74 (dd, J = 0.5, 8.0 Hz,
1H), 7.90 (dd, J = 1.7, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.01 (dd, J = 0.5, 1.7 Hz, 1H).
Hofmann degradation of 4-bromophthalimide (10) [29]. The phthalimide 62 (4.95 g, 0.0219 mol) was
dissolved in a solution of NaOH (6.5 g, 0.163 mol) in 23 mL H2O in a 250 mL 3-necked R.B. flask by
heating to 85 ºC. The colorless solution was cooled with stirring in an ice bath to 1–2 ºC. Then
14.55 mL of a 1.509 M solution of NaOCl (0.0220 mol), diluted by addition of 16 mL of H2O, was
added dropwise over a period of 15 min at 1–6 ºC. The cloudy orange yellow mixture was stirred 1 hr
at 1 ºC, heated rapidly to 75–78 ºC for 5 to 8 min and then cooled again in an ice-water bath. The
weakly basic, clear orange yellow solution was extracted with 20 mL of ether and acidified carefully
with 32% HCl to a pH of about 3. There was a little foaming and a beige precipitate appeared. This
was filtered, washed with a few 20 mL portions of H2O, and dried in a vacuum to give of a product
which consisted of a 45:55 mixture of 4- and 5-bromo-2-aminobenzoic acids (11 and 12 respectively;
1
2.86 g, 0.0132 mol, 60% yield). H-NMR of 4-bromo-2-aminobenzoic acid (11):  6.79 (dd, J = 1.8,
8.5 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H). 1H-NMR of 5-bromo-2-aminobenzoic

Molecules 2010, 15
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acid (12):  6.58 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (dd, J = 2.4, 8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (d, J = 2.4 Hz, 1H). Neither
recrystallization from ethanol-H2O nor extraction with heptane afforded any significant separation of
the isomers.
4-Bromo-2-chlorobenzoic acid (15) [35,36]. 4-amino-2-chlorobenzoic acid (18, Aldrich, 2.50 g,
0.0146 mol) was placed in a 250 mL 3-necked R.B. flask, followed by 48% HBr (8.5 mL, 0.073 mol)
and about 110 mL of H2O. The mixture was heated to about 60 ºC with stirring until a clear orange
solution was obtained. This was cooled with stirring in an ice-salt water bath to -3 ºC, and a white
precipitate appeared. Then a solution of sodium nitrite (1.01 g, 0.0146 mol) in 6–7 mL H2O was added
by pipette over about 30 min. The white suspension of the hydrobromide salt broke up and a yellow-
orange mixture was obtained, along with some precipitate on the sides of the flask towards the end of
the addition. The heterogeneous mixture was stirred at -3 ºC.
In the meantime cupric sulfate pentahydrate (4.57 g) was dissolved in 16 mL H2O and heated with
stirring to 70 ºC. Sodium bromide (2.24 g, 0.0218 mol) was added slowly with stirring in small
portions. An initially dark precipitate appeared and the solution turned green. Then an aqueous
solution of NaOH (0.6 g, 0.015 mol) and sodium bisulfite (Aldrich, min. SO2 content 58.5%, 0.99 g,
0.00825 mol) was heated to 70 ºC and added to the cupric bromide solution. A thin white precipitate
appeared and the supernatant was light blue. Three more portions of sodium bisulfite (0.1 g in 1 mL
H2O) were added, but the blue color remained. The mixture was cooled in an ice-water bath, the solid
allowed to settle, the supernatant decanted and the solid washed with a few portions of 10 mL H2O.
The solid was then dissolved in a total of 14 mL 48% HBr and the purple solution introduced into a
500 mL R. B. flask.
The diazonium salt slurry was then introduced into the CuBr-HBr solution beneath the surface of
the liquid, under cooling with an ice-salt bath and stirring over a period of 1½ h. Much frothing
occurred and the mixture turned a greenish brown. The mixture was stirred another 1 h at RT and 1½ h
at 5560 ºC. The mixture was cooled, filtered, and the soft tan solid product washed with 2  5 mL of
48% HBr each diluted with 20 mL H2O, followed by 2  25 mL H2O. The crude product (7.53 g) was
dissolved in a solution of KOH (3.5 g) in 50 mL H2O, giving a deep red brown mixture. This was
filtered and the filtrate acidified with 32% HCl to pH 1, giving a beige solid which was filtered off,
washed with 20 mL H2O and dried in vacuum to give crude product (2.92 g, 0.0124 mol, 85% yield)
which melted partly at 162 ºC but contains another, high melting component. 1H NMR also showed a
mixture of two compounds, and comparison with a commercial sample showed that the predominant,
more soluble fraction in H2O is the desired 4-bromo-2-chlorobenzoic acid (15). However, purification
by extraction was not feasible. Purified product (1.773 g, 0.00752 mol, 52% yield) was purified by
column chromatography on 100 g of silica gel, using a 2:1:0.06 mixture of ethyl acetate/petroleum
1
ether/acetic acid. Mp: 162164 ºC (lit. [32] 166167 ºC). H NMR (CDCl3/DMSO-d6):  7.46 (dd,
J = 1.9, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (d, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H). 13C NMR (CDCl3/DMSO-d6):
 125.41, 129.57, 130.05, 132.46, 132.98, 133.61.
2′,4′-Dibromoacetophenone (21) [46]. Aluminum chloride (10.0 g, 0.075 mol) was placed in a R.B.
flask equipped with a condenser and silicone oil gas bubbler outlet leading to a trap filled with a 10%
aqueous NaOH solution. p-Dibromobenzene (25, 7.08 g, 0.030 mol) was added and the mixture was

Molecules 2010, 15
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gently agitated. Then acetyl chloride (3.2 mL, 3.53 g, 0.045 mol) was added by pipette, leading to
some fuming was noticed. The reaction vessel was immersed into an oil bath preheated to 93 ºC. The
mixture melted and vigorous evolution of gas ensued for about 15 min. The mixture was stirred for
2½ h at 9092 ºC, by which time it had gradually turned brown and TLC (1:6: ethyl acetate/petroleum
ether) showed no starting material and two more slowly moving products. After 3 hr the mixture was
poured with stirring into a mixture of 60 g of ice and 25 mL of 32% HCl. A creamy yellow solid
separated and the liquid phase was yellow. The mixture was extracted with 5 × 25 mL of ethyl ether
and the combined ether phase was washed with 2 × 10 mL H2O, 10 mL of 10% sodium carbonate
solution, 2 × 7 mL H2O and finally 5 mL of saturated NaCl solution; the last washings were neutral.
The yellow-orange organic layer was dried with sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, filtered, and
the solvent distilled off to give a brown oil (8.32 g). NMR showed the crude product to be 89% pure
2′,4′-dibromoacetophenone (21), with the remainder being mainly p-bromoacetophenone (22).
Distillation of the crude product at 0.02 Torr yielded a forerun at 7681 ºC, followed by a main
1
fraction (5.80 g, 0.0209 mol, 70%) at 8184 ºC/0.02 Torr. H NMR (acetone-d6):  2.60 (s, 3H), 7.55
13
(dd, J = 0.2, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (dd, J = 1.8, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (dd, J = 0.2, 1.8 Hz, 1H). C NMR
(acetone-d6):  30.06, 119.60, 125.24, 131.16, 131.43, 136.43, 140.76, 199.60. The aforementioned
forerun crystallized partially and proved to be mainly p-bromoacetophenone (22, 0.988 g,
1
0.00496 mol). H NMR (CDCl3):  2.59 (s, 3H), 7.61 (m, 2H), 7.82 (m, 2H). When the reaction was
performed on a 3-fold scale of p-dibromobenzene (23.60 g, 0.100 mol scale) at 6575 ºC, the crude
product contained about 80% of 21. Distillation gave a main cut of 20.71 g (74% yield) at
8798.5 ºC/0.07 Torr which contained 12% of impurities as p-bromoacetophenone as determined by
NMR. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz):  2.62 (s, 3H), 7.37 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (dd, J = 1.8, 8.3 Hz,
1H), 7.80 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H). 13C NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz):  30.20, 119.89, 125.41, 130.21, 130.71,
136.31, 139.96, 200.05. 2D NMR: HMQC correlations: 7.37–130.21; 7.52–130.71; 7.80–136.31.
HMBC correlations: 2.62–30.20, 139.96, 200.05; 7.37–119.89, 125.41, 130.71, 136.41, 200.05;
7.52–119.89, 125.41, 130.21, 136.31, 139.96; 7.80–119.89, 125.41, 130.71, 139.96.
2,4-Dibromobenzoic acid (20) [47]. Distilled 2′,4′-dibromoacetophenone (21, 4.60 g, 0.0166 mol) was
placed in a 500 mL R.B. flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer. A solution of NaOH (1.05 g, 0.0263 mol)
in 10.5 mL H2O was added, followed by a solution potassium permanganate (7.50 g, 0.0475 mol) in
260 mL H2O. The mixture was stirred under reflux using an oil bath heated to 143155 ºC for 5 h, at
which time the permanganate color from the aqueous phase had disappeared. The mixture was allowed
to cool, acidified with a solution of 5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid in 10 mL H2O, and the black
precipitate of manganese dioxide decomposed with sodium bisulfite (Fluka, 64% SO2, a total of 6.7 g).
The mixture was adjusted to pH 7 by addition of 6 M NaOH followed by 6 M H2SO4 and then
extracted with a total of 190 mL of ethyl ether in 4 portions. The aqueous layer was then acidified by
adding small aliquots of 6 M H2SO4 with stirring, and a thick white precipitate was obtained. This was
filtered off, washed with 2 × 20 mL H2O, and dried in vacuo to give of the desired product (3.35 g)
softening at 145 ºC and melting at 162165 ºC, (lit. [90] 169 ºC). The latter proved by NMR to be
1
fairly pure 2,4-dibromobenzoic acid (20) containing a few percent of p-bromobenzoic acid (26). H
NMR (acetone-d6):  7.71 (dd, J = 1.9, 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (d, 1.9 Hz, 1H).
From the mother liquors of the aqueous layer an additional 0.49 g of crystalline material was obtained

Molecules 2010, 15
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that melted mostly at 145 ºC and was identified by NMR as mainly 2,4-dibromobenzoic acid (20).
Total yield was 82% (3.81 g, 0.136 mol).
4-Bromo-2-[(N-carboxymethyl)amino]benzoic acid (13) [57-59]. 2,4-Dibromobenzoic acid (67, 2.80 g,
0.010 mol) was placed in a 100 mL R.B. flask and a solution of 85% KOH (0.66 g, 0.010 mol) in
2.5 mL H2O was added with stirring. Heat was generated and a homogenous slurry was obtained. The
glycine (1.50 g, 0.020 mol) was added, followed by copper powder (0.066 g, 00104 mol) and cuprous
iodide (0.074 g, 0.000389 mol). The grayish slurry was immersed into an oil bath at 60 ºC and
potassium carbonate (1.38 g, 0.010 mol) was added. Frothing occurred and a blue color and a thick
precipitate appeared, and 7.5 mL H2O was added to a total of 10 mL. The grayish blue green mixture
was stirred for a total of 1½ h, after which TLC (2:1:0.06: ethyl acetate/petroleum ether – acetic acid)
showed no starting material remained. The mixture was diluted with 30 mL H2O and acidified to pH 1
with 3–5 mL of 32% HCl. Foaming occurred and a thick violet precipitate appeared. The mixture was
extracted with 130 mL of ethyl ether in 5 portions, and the combined extracts were washed with a little
H2O, 4 × 5 mL of 5% aqueous disodium EDTA, 5 mL of saturated aqueous NaCl and dried with
magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent at 35 ºC gave crude product (2.21 g, 0.00806 mol, 81%
yield) as an off-white solid. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6):  4.04 (s, 2H), 6.76 (dd, J = 1.9, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 6.79
(d, J = 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 8.22 (b, 1H), ~12.9 (b).
6-Bromo-N,O-diacetylindoxyl (27) [28,60-63]. Bromocarboxyphenylglycine 13 (2.15 g, 0.00785 mol)
was dissolved in 20 mL of redistilled acetic anhydride in a 50 mL R.B. flask with gentle warming.
Then anhydrous sodium acetate (0.81 g, 0.010 mol) was added and the flask was immersed into an oil
bath preheated to 135137 ºC. The solids readily dissolved and the mixture turned a cloudy yellow
brown with evolution of gas. After 10–15 min the cloudiness disappeared and evolution of gas
stopped. TLC (2:1:0.06: ethyl acetate/petroleum ether/acetic acid) showed that no starting material
remained. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature and a yellowish precipitate appeared.
This was filtered off, washed with a solution of sodium acetate (0.6 g) in 5 mL of acetic acid, and was
found to dissolve in 15 mL of ice cold H2O. The combined organic layers were cooled in ice, a small
amount of crystalline solid material filtered off, and the filtrate combined with the cooled aqueous
layer and refrigerated. A yellow solid separated out which was then filtered, washed with 4 × 5 mL
H2O and then dried in vacuo to give 1.11 g of product which was shown by NMR to be quite pure 6-
bromodiacetylindoxyl (27). 1H NMR:

2.38 (s, 3H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 7.40 (dd,
J = 0.6, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J = 1.5, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (s, 1H), 8.70 (b, 1H) The filtrate was
evaporated to dryness in vacuo and the yellow brown solid residue was worked up similarly. The
aqueous layer was extracted with ether, giving a total of 0.51 g additional product which was less pure
than the first fraction. The total yield of 27 was 70% (1.62 g, 0,00547 mol).
6,6′-Dibromoindigo (1) from 6-bromodiacetylindoxyl (27). Pure 6-bromodiacetylindoxyl (27, 1.11 g,
0.00372 mol) was placed in a 50 mL R.B. flask and a solution NaOH (2.0 g, 0.050 mol) in 25 mL H2O
was added. The mixture was immersed with stirring into an oil bath preheated to 130 ºC. The mixture
turned brown and a mauve purple color began to appear almost instantly. The mixture was stirred
under reflux for 30 min and then at room temperature overnight. It was then divided into 4 portions,

Molecules 2010, 15
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and each was centrifuged in a 10 or 15 mL cuvette. The solids were then washed twice with hot water,
twice with ethanol and twice with ether, centrifuging the solids each time. The ethanol and ether
washings were reddish to bright rose violet. The residual purple solids were dried in vacuo to give a
93%yield dibromoindigo (1, 0.725 g, 0.00173 mol).
4. Conclusions
From ancient times, the dye of royalty Tyrian purple has been produced from secretions of various
species of snails found off the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Ever since its chemical identification
a century ago, chemists have been interested in developing practical syntheses of the compound.
However, all known syntheses are either lengthy, inefficient, or involve expensive or hazardous
starting materials or reagents. Synthetic Tyrian purple is commercially available today, but at a price
nearly as high as the natural pigment.
We have described in this paper a new, reasonably simple and efficient synthesis of Tyrian purple
which we believe has the potential of providing large quantities of the dye with minimal hazards and at
low cost. The overall yield of Tyrian purple in our five step synthesis was about 25%, based on the
starting p-dibromobenzene (25), and has yet to be fully optimized. Although this yield is lower than
that achieved by Voss and Gerlach for their synthesis starting from the same compound [23], our
procedure has the advantage of not requiring special techniques such as low temperatures or strictly
anhydrous conditions; nor does our procedure use highly toxic or possibly carcinogenic reagents.
Therefore, this procedure is amenable for student labs and industrial production of larger quantities.
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