Abstract

4-Nitrophenylglyoxal reacts with N-hydroxyurea both in water and in acetic acid forming the mixture of diastereomers of 3,4,5-trihydroxy- 5-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazolidin-2-one. The diastereomer with cis-orientation of OH-groups dominates. In the acetic acid medium, 4- nitrophenylglyoxal reacts with 2-methylfuran selectively yielding 2-hydroxy-2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanone.

Key words: nitrophenylglyoxal;N-hydroxyurea; 2-methylfuran; 5-aryl-3,4,5-trihydroxyimidazolidin-2-ones; structure; α-benzoins.