Introduction of an 8-methyl group into the molecule of 1, 3, 7-trimethylaxanthine (caffeine) provided a pharmaceutical compound [3, 4] which has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases and for a long time has taken the place of caffeine in dry medicinal forms. This has led to the extension of research investigations into a large number of 8-substituted methylxanthines [i, 2, 4, 6]. It has recently been reported in the literature [9] that 8- ...