Synthesis of 2-methyl-4-selenoquinazolone, 2-phenylbenzoselenazole, and its derivatives / Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Pure Science of Columbia University

by Yü-Gwan Chen

Decomposition of Monoamino Derivative

Five grams of the monoamino compound were mixed with powdered KOH, heated together until the mixture just melted, and maintained in that state for a few minutes. When the latter had cooled down to room temperature, cold water was poured over the mixture. The filtered solution was acidified until no further precipitate was formed. The precipitate was collected and recrystallized from water, m.p. 121°C.

One gram of this solid was placed in a test tube, provided with a cork and a delivery tube, and heated with soda lime; a liquid with the smell of benzene was collected in another test tube cooled with water. When this liquid was treated with a few drops of nitric acid mixture the smell of nitrobenzene was given off. A gram of the crystals was heated with concentrated sulphuric acid and alcohol when the odor of ethyl benzoate was noted.