Isopropylamine → (4-Bromobenzyl)isopropylamine

A solution of 1-bromo-4-(bromomethyl)benzene (2.0 g, 8.0 mmol), isopropylamine (950 mg, 16 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2.2 g, 16 mmol) in acetonitrile (40 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (silica, 0-100% methylene chloride/methanol) to afford the desired product (1.4 g, 78%) as a brown solid: ESI MS m/z 228 [C10H14BrN+H]+.