Synthesis of caffeine from theobromine: Bringing back an old experiment in a new setting

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Davir González-Calderón
Carlos A. González-González
Aydeé Fuentes-Benítes
Carlos González-Romero

Abstract

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed, naturally occurring, mild, and central nervous system stimulants. Its synthesis, by the N-methylation (SN2 substitution) of theobromine is described as an experiment for the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory. The N-methylation of theobromine is rapid and efficient and its progress is monitored by TLC using authentic standards. The undergraduate student also is able to observe the effect of temperature on the rate of the N-methylation reaction.

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Author Biography

Carlos González-Romero

Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Paseo Colón/Paseo Tollocan s/n, Toluca, Estado de México, 50120, Mexico.