Fused s-triazino heterocycles. VIII. 1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalenes. Reactions of a methyl and bromomethyl side chain

Enhanced reactivity of the methyl group of 2-t-butyl-5-methyl-1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene allowed acetic anhydride-catalyzed condensation reactions with several aromatic aldehydes, and base-catalyzed alkylation reactions with several alkyl halides to take place, albeit in low yields. Of the many nucleophiles tried, only salts of carboxylic acids, in the presence of 18-crown-6, were able to displace bromine from 2-(bromomethyl)-5-methyl-1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene.