isotope12 - 19-3-2015 at 11:10
I know that GBL(gamma-Butyrolactone) is commonly used as a precursor to make NMP(N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone). However, is it possible to reverse that
reaction (get GBL from NMP)? I see that all that needs to be done is placing single oxygen where there was a nitrogen and methyl group, but is that
even possible?
If it is possible, what kind of equipment would you need? Is this complicated by the fact that their boiling points are so close together?
Any help here would be great.
Mesa - 19-3-2015 at 14:28
I assume you are trying to make GHB from paint remover?
Sorry to disappoint you, even if it was possible to get the nitrogen to react in anything approaching "reasonable" conditions, you wouldn't be able to
retain the ring structure anyways. GBL is a pipedream.
On the other hand, if you somehow find a way to hydrolyze N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, the main product would be N-methyl GABA. Cyclizing would seem kinda
redundant at this point.
[Edited on 19-3-2015 by Mesa]