Green Synthesis of Phenytoin Sodium

Abstract

In this study, benzaldehyde was reacted with benzoin condensation, oxidation and cyclization reaction to product phenytoin sodium under the supersonic wave radiation. In the condensation reaction, non-toxic vitamin B1 was used as a reactor instead of highly toxic cyanide on pH=9 at 70 oC. After that, FeCl3 • 6H2O was used as oxidant instead of concentrated nitric acid under the mild conditions. The results were that the yield of phenytoin sodium was up to 56.8%. There were many advantages in this improved synthesis method such as shorter reaction time, higher product purity, lower environmental pollution and higher product yield.