INCREASING YIELD OF MEFENAMIC ACID SYNTHESIS WITH 2,3-DIMETHYLANILINE AND O-IODOBENZOIC ACID AS STARTING MATERIALS

• Main Author: Ode Akbar Rasydy, La
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/49324
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

According to patent and literature, mefenamic acid could be synthesized from oiodo- or o-bromobenzoic acid and 2,3-dimethylaniline as starting materials. Modified synthesis method of this compound has been previously initiated which still resulted in low yield. The aim of this research was to obtain modified and more economical synthesis method of mefenamic acid. In the modified method, mefenamic acid was also synthesized from the same starting materials and catalyst as the reported method but with different solvent and auxiliary base. In addition, reaction temperature and time, as well as working up method have been either varied or modified. The synthesis could be smoothly conducted in anhydrous dimethyl formamide as solvent, with anhydrous potassium carbonate as auxiliary base at 80 °C for 9 hours. Reaction course was chromatographically monitored and practically no by product was observed. On the completion, the reaction mixture was poured into aqueous hydrochloric acid solution which resulted in white precipitation formation. The precipitation was isolated by filtration and purified by recrystallization in ethyl acetate. The purified product was characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The NMR spectrum confirms that the product is mefenamic acid. Mefenamic acid has been successfully synthesized by modified method with the theoretical yield of 70%.