Treatment of 1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole with bromine in water resulted in rapid dibromination to give 4, 5-dibromo-1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole. In dioxane, the bromination was slower, and could be controlled to give 4-bromo-1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole 5 and 5-bromo-1-methyl-2- nitroimidazole 6 in a 4: 1 ratio. In an attempt to displace the bromine, the monobromo compounds were treated with cysteamine hydrochloride. In each case the nitro group was ...
