N-tertbutylimidazole can be synthesized on large scales with a modified version of procedure reported by Streubel [1] as follows:
To a 3-neck flask with a magnetic stir bar and distilled water (50 mL) were attached two dropping funnels. One funnel contained a mixture of 40% aqueous glyoxal (11.5 mL, 0.1 mol) and 37% aqueous formaldehyde (8.1 mL, 0.1 mol). The second funnel contained a mixture of tert-butylamine (10.6 mL, 0.1 mol) and 28% aqueous ammonia (6.8 mL, 0.1 mol). After heating the water in the flask to reflux, both dropping funnel solutions were added dropwise, simultaneously. The brown solution was subsequently stirred for 30 min. at reflux. Upon cooling the solution to room temperature, it was extracted with dichloromethane (2x150 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (50 mL), dried with Mg2SO4, desiccant filtered off, and solvent removed by rotary evaporation. The crude product was purified by short-path distillation (c.a. 105degC, 0.001 Torr). N-tertbutylimidazole was obtained as a colorless liquid.
[1] Sauerbrey, S.; Majhi, P. K.; Daniels, J.; Schnakenburg, G.; Brändle, G. M.; Scherer, K.; Streubel, R. Synthesis, Structure, and Reactions of 1-tert-Butyl-2-diphenylphosphino-imidazole. Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 3, 793-799