Synthesis of anti-tuberculosis drugs in a microwave flow reactor

This article describes the first detailed method for the synthesis of the sought-after anti tuberculosis drugs Methazide (2) and Ftivazide (3) in a microwave flow-type reactor. The process was carried out in water, the time of synthesis of Methazide was reduced by a factor of 36 and of Ftivazide by a factor of 24 as compared with known convection prototypes; the replacement of toxic aqueous formaldehyde solution by safer paraformaldehyde was successfully carried out, all of which makes the proposed method consistent with the principles of the “Green Chemistry“ concept.