Methanol → 2-(3-Chloro-4-fluorophenyl)ethan-1-amine hydrochloride

Borane-tetrahydrofuran complex solution (1 M in THF, 132 mL, 132 mmol) was added dropwise over 30 min at 0-5° C. to a solution of 3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenylacetonitrile (4.37 g, 25.8 mmol) in THF (40 mL), then the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 20 min and refluxed for 21 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 0° C., and methanol (30 mL) was added at 2-5° C. over 45 minutes. After refluxing for 1 h the reaction mixture was concentrated, the residue dissolved in dichloromethane and the amine extracted twice with 1 M aq. hydrochloric acid solution. The combined aqueous phases were then treated with concentrated aq. sodium hydroxide solution to adjust the pH to 12, then extracted twice with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases were washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated, leading to a colorless oil (4.3 g). This was dissolved in diethyl ether (125 mL), treated with hydrogen chloride solution (2.6 M in diethyl ether), and stirred at RT for 1 h. The precipitate was then collected by filtration to afford the title compound (3.93 g, 73%) White solid, MS (ISP) 174.1 (M−Cl)+.