A Convenient Synthesis of the Potent Mutagen 3,4,8-Trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxalin-2-amine.

Abstract
The highly mutagenic 4,8-DiMeIQx [3,4,8-trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f] quinoxalin-2-amine] was synthesized in 13% overall yield from 2-fluoro-5-nitrotoluene in 8 operations. The average operation yield was 83%. The reaction sequence used gave, in addition to [4,8-DiMeIOx] the isomer 3,4,7-trimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxalin-2-amine (4,7-DiMeIQx).