Although the reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid or nitric acid and then with ammonia has been known to give a purple coloration (Murexide reaction), the use of hydrazine instead of ammonia is found to provide no purple coloration. The reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate afforded a yellow reaction mixture, from which 4-methyl-6-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-3,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrotriazine 9, oxalyl hydrazide 10 and hydroxylamine hydrochloride were isolated. The reaction of caffeine with nitric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate furnished a yellow reaction mixture, from which 8-amino-1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1H,3H,7H-xanthine 11, 9 and hydroxylamine nitrate were isolated. Compound 9 was clarified to be produced from 3-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-oxazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,5,7(3H,4H,6H)-trione 3 and 1,3-dimethylalloxan 7 by the ring transformation with hydrazine.
