Lithium hexamethyldisilazane → 4-Chloro-6-methoxynicotinimidamide hydrochloride

To a solution of 4-chloro-6-methoxy-nicotinonitrile (10.1 g, 59.7 mmol) in THF (300 mL) at −78° C. was added LiHMDS (65.7 mL) dropwise and the reaction mixture stirred for 30 min before allowing to warm to RT and stirring for a further 1 h. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 1N HCl (to pH ˜1) and then extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was concentrated in vacuo to give brown solid which was azeotroped with toluene to give the title compound as a tan solid. Mixture with ammonium chloride, 72% title compound by weight. (15.2 g, 83%). 1H NMR 400 MHz (DMSO-d) δ: 9.68 (4 H, d, J=15.79 Hz), 8.46 (1 H, s), 7.47 (5 H, t, J=50.66 Hz), 7.27 (1 H, s), 3.95 (3 H, s).