O-Demethylation of Pyrilamine

O-Demethylation of pyrilamine with l-propanethiol and potassium tert-butoxide gave hydroxytripelennamine, one of the major metabolites of tripelennamine. The reaction of pyrilamine with other demethylating agents has been explored and the products formed have been characterized. The reaction of pyrilamine with 48% hydrobromic acid yielded 2-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)aminopyridine. When a mild, neutral demethylating agent, Me3Sil, was used, 2,3-dihydroimidazopyridinium iodide was the sole product formed.