sodium hydroxide 1) water, 30 min, reflux, 2) 95percent ethanol, 20 min, reflux, 3) HCl;

1: 97 percent / polyphosphoric acid / 16 h / 80 °C 2: 76 percent / p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate / 24 h / Heating; molecular sieves View Scheme

PPA T=80°C; 16 h;

1: 97 percent / polyphosphoric acid / 16 h / 80 °C 2: 1) oxalyl chloride / 1) toluene, 60 deg C, 4.5 h, 2) dichloromethane, -60 deg C to room temperature 3: 62 percent / anhydrous hydrazine / 16 h / Ambient temperature View Scheme