Ultrafast Synthesis of Moclobemide via Free Radicals: An Integral Activity in the Heterocyclic Chemistry Lab

Abstract

In this work, we present a novel strategy for the synthesis of the widely used antidepressant moclobemide, suitable for implementation in any organic chemistry teaching laboratory. This procedure not only significantly outperforms existing synthetic methods described in the literature but also enables students to understand and manipulate crucial steps in a synthetic route, demonstrating how fundamental chemical concepts can optimize well-established synthetic techniques, potentially influencing industrial practices. Our approach leverages early stage free radical formation to drive a two-step bond cleavage-formation process, proving more energetically efficient than the conventional addition–elimination mechanism typically involved in this synthesis. These modifications not only reduce the reaction time but also increase the yield, achieving up to 90% in just 5 min. Free radicals were generated using a commercially available UV–visible lamp, ensuring the method’s simplicity and cost-effectiveness for widespread adoption in any laboratory setting. The purity and structure of the obtained product were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, mass spectrometry (DART method) measurements, and melting point analysis.