Microwave promoted reaction of purin-6-yl magnesium halides with aldehydes in dichloromethane at 100 °C

Treatment of a dichloromethane solution of 9-benzyl or 9-phenyl 6-iodopurine with ethereal ethylmagnesium bromide at ambient temperature gives the corresponding purin-6-yl magnesium halides. Addition of an aldehyde followed by heating at 100 °C in a microwave reactor yielded the corresponding carbinols in 52–81% yield.