Nitroimidazoles. XII. A simple and efficient synthesis of 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-2-acetic acid

Reaction of 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-2-carboxyl chloride ( 9 ) with diazomethane afforded 2-diazo-1-(1-memyl-5-nitro-2-imidazolyl)ethanone ( 10 ). Successive rearrangement of compound 10 via Arndt-Eastert rearrangement yielded 1-memyl-5-mtroimidazole-2-acetic acid ( 1 ), which was converted to its corresponding methyl ester 11 with etheral solution of diazomethane.