SYNTHESIS OF ORPHENADRINE

Orphenadrine is an anticholinergic drug commonly used for painful muscle spasms and similar conditions. Orphenadrine can be synthesized in three steps starting from benzoyl chloride and toluene. In the first step Friedel crafts acylation is utilized to yield 3-methylbenzophenone from the aforementioned starting materials. Next 3-methylbenzophenone was reduced to an alcohol using lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride. Finally the resulting alcohol was reacted with 2-chloro-N,N-dimethylethanamine via an SN2 reaction to yield orphenadrine. In the second step sodium borohydride was used in place of lithium aluminum hydride for the process of converting a ketone to an alcohol. NaBH4 is less reactive green alternative to LiAlH4 that is safer both for use within the lab setting and when being cycled back into the environment.