Microwave Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Phenytoin

A simple, clean, fast, efficient and economical, microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of Phenytoin has been developed. The antiepileptic drug Phenytoin is synthesized by reaction between Benzil and Urea. The activation of Benzil and Urea is a type of pinacole-pinacolone rearrangement reaction. Comparison of microwave assisted synthesis with the conventional methods of synthesis demonstrates advantages related to shorter reaction time and in some cases better reaction yields. Moreover, microwave activation is a very convenient method for the synthesis of phenytoin resulting in good yield and purity.