Ammonium Hydroxide → 3-(4-Bromophenyl)propanamide

To a solution of 3-(4-bromophenyl)propanoic acid (15.0 g) in thionyl chloride (24.5 g) was added catalytic amount of N,N-dimethylformamide (one drop) and refluxed for 1.5 hours under nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was poured slowly into 28% aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution (150 ml) at 0° C. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with water and brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Filtration followed by evaporation under reduced pressure gave 3-(4-bromophenyl)propanamide (13.7 g) as a white solid.