Improved Synthesis of 1‐Hydroxy‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethyl‐3‐imidazoline 3‐Oxide (HTIO)

Abstract A simple, efficient, mild, and reproducible method for the synthesis of 1‐hydroxy‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethyl‐3‐imidazoline 3‐oxide is described. The method is based on the condensation of 2‐hydroxyamino‐2‐methylpropanal oxime with 2,2‐diethoxypropane in the presence of an equimolar quantity of acetic acid. Cost‐effectiveness of the condensation procedure could be also achieved by replacing 2,2‐diethoxypropane with less expensive 2,2‐dimethoxypropane.