We plan to use 4 (5)-vinylimidazole (2) as a starting material for the synthesis of derivatives of histamine and histidine. This material has also shown considerable promise as a polymer formu1ant. l The published procedure (Scheme I) for the synthesis of 2 from histidine, however, results in yields of only 9.7%. In addition, the final step in the synthesis, involving a high-vacuum thermal decarboxylation of urocanic acid (l), is impractical for quantities ...
[Cappon, J. J.; Witters, K. D.; Baart, J.; Verdegem, P. J. E.; Hoek, A. C.; et al. Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas, 1994 , vol. 113, # 6 p. 318 - 328]
