The condensation of (I) with propylene oxide (A) in ethanol at 20 C gives 1-(2-hydroxypropyl)-2-methylimidazole (III), which is acetylated with acetyl chloride in refluxing acetonitrile yielding the corresponding acetate (IV). The nitration of (IV) by means of HNO3 and P2O5 affords 1-(2-acetoxypropyl)-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole (V), which is finally hydrolyzed with 4N HCl at 90 C.
The reaction of (I) with chloroacetone (C) by means of K2CO3 in refluxing acetone gives (2-methylimidazol-1-yl)acetone (VI), which is nitrated with HNO3 and P2O5 affording the corresponding nitro compound (VII). Finally, this product is reduced with NaBH4 in methanol at room temperature.
The nitration of (I) with HNO3 and H2SO4 gives 2-methyl-4(5)-nitroimidazole (II), which is then condensed with refluxing 1-chloroisopropanol (B) or with propylene oxide in 85% formic acid (A).