PREPARATION OF RACEMIC NICOTINE BY REACTION OF ETHYL NICOTINATE WITH N-VINYLPYRROLIDONE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ALCOHOLATE BASE AND SUBSEQUENT PROCESS STEPS
The present invention relates to a method of preparing racemic nicotine comprising: (i) reacting ethyl nicotinate and N-vinylpyrrolidone in the presence of an alcoholate base to 3-nicotinoyl-1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one； (ii) reacting the 3-nicotinoyl-1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one with an acid to myosmine； (iii) reducing the myosmine to nornicotine using a reducing agent； and (iv) methylating the nornicotine to obtain the racemic nicotine.
