Chlorination of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4,6(5H,7H)dione (3,7-dideazaxanthine) and its 5-methyl derivative

The chlorination of 1H-pyrrolo3,2-c]pyridin-4,6(5H, 7H)dione (3,7-dideazaxanthine) ( 2 ) and 5-methyl-1H-pyrrolo3,2-c] pyridin4,6(5H,7H)dione (1 -methyl-3,7-dideazaxanthine) ( 3 ) with phenylphosphonic dichloride has yielded 4,6-dichloro-1H-pyrrolo3,2-c]pyridine (2,6-dichloro-3,7-dideazapurine) ( 1 ). A mechanism for the demethylation of the 5-methyl derivative under these conditions is proposed. Ammonolysis of 4,6-dichloro-1H-pyrrolo3,2-c] pyridine was unsuccessful while catalytic reduction of this dichloro derivative produced 1H-pyrrolo3,2-c]-pyridine ( 4 ).