Abstract 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, ...