Temazepam: R L Fine Chem., Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA.

PerChloric acid: (70%, Sigma-Aldrich)

Methanol: (anhydrous, 99.8%, Sigma-Aldrich)

Dichloromethane (Merck)

Sodium carbonate (Sigma-Aldrich)

Temazepam (20 g; 0.067 mol) and  methanol (120 ml) was added to a 0.5 Lt, 4 necked flask bearing a mechanical stirrer, addition flask and thermometer, set up on a cooling tub at room temperature. Perchloric acid (70%; 2mL (10%/vol.) was added slowly through a dropping funnel keeping the reaction temperature between 20-25°C in 1-2 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to come to room temperature and was stirred overnight. Then distilled complete methanol under reduced pressure and residue adding to 50% Na₂CO₃ solution (200 ml). The reaction mass was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2 X 200 ml) and dried over Na₂SO₄. The dichloromethane was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a light yellow oily liquid which on forced scratching with glass rod gives light yellow solid (18 g, 86%).   

IR (cm-1): 1680.00 ([C=O]), 1608.00 ([HCOCH₃]) (ether).

¹H NMR (CDCl₃; 400MHz): δ 7.68-7.66(d;2H;ArH),7.56-7.47(m;2H;ArH),7.44-7.40(t;2H;ArH),7.35-7.32(t;2H;ArH), 4.67(s;1H,COCH),3.63(s;3H;NCH₃),3.43(s;3H;OCH₃).

¹³C NMR (CDCl₃; 100 MHz):167.40, 163.92, 141.57, 137.17, 131.88, 130.97, 130.20, 129.63, 129.53, 129.42, 128.38, 122.89, 90.02, 55.38, 35.19.