3-Methylpyridine or 3-picoline, is an organic compound with formula 3-CH3C5H4N. It is one of three positional isomers of methylpyridine, whose structures vary according to where the methyl group is attached around the pyridine ring. This colorless liquid is a precursor to pyridine derivatives that have applications in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Like pyridine, 3-methylpyridine is a colorless liquid with a strong odor and is classified as a weak base.[1]
Synthesis
3-Methylpyridine is produced industrially by the reaction of acrolein, with ammonia. These ingredients are combined as gases which flows over an oxide-based heterogeneous catalyst. The reaction is multistep, culminating in cyclisation.
2 CH2CHCHO + NH3 → CH3C5H4N + 2H2O
This process also affords substantial amounts of pyridine, which arises by demethylation of the 3-methylpyridine. A route that gives better control of the product starts with acrolein, propionaldehyde, and ammonia:[1]
3-Picoline is a useful precursor to agrochemicals, such as chlorpyrifos.[1] Chlorpyrifos is produced from 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, which is generated from 3-picoline by way of cyanopyridine. This conversion involves the ammoxidation of 3-methylpyridine:
Pyridinecarbaldehydes are used to make antidotes for poisoning by organophosphate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Environmental behavior
Pyridine derivatives (including 3-methylpyridine) are environmental contaminants, generally associated with processing fossil fuels, such as oil shale or coal.[6] They are also found in the soluble fractions of crude oil spills. They have also been detected at legacy wood treatment sites. The high water solubility of 3-methyl pyridine increases the potential for the compound to contaminate water sources. 3-methyl pyridine is biodegradable, although it degrades more slowly and volatilize more readily from water samples than either 2-methyl- or 4-methyl-pyridine.,[7][8]
3-Methylpyridine is the main precursor to niacin, one of the B vitamins. Approximately 10,000 tons of niacin are produced annually worldwide.[9]
^Schmidberger, J. W.; Hepworth, L. J.; Green, A. P.; Flitsch, S. L. (2015). "Enzymatic Synthesis of Amides". In Faber, Kurt; Fessner, Wolf-Dieter; Turner, Nicholas J. (eds.). Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis 1. Science of Synthesis. Georg Thieme Verlag. pp. 329–372. ISBN9783131766113.
