Ammonia → 1-(2-Methoxypyridin-3-yl)methanamine--hydrogen chloride (1/2)

15.1 g of 2-methoxy-3-picolyl chloride hydrochloride (77.76 mmol) were slowly added dropwise to a mixture of 600 ml of 30% strength ammonia solution in water and 250 ml of methanol at 35° C. while continuously passing in gaseous ammonia. After the solution had been stirred at 35° C. for 1 h it was concentrated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator, the residue was made alkaline with 20% strength NaOH solution (water phases were kept small) and extracted several times with DCM, and the org. phases were dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator. The residue was taken up in ether and, after addition of ethereal hydrochloric acid, filtration with suction and washing of the precipitate with ether, 11.0 g (67%) of 2-methoxy-3-picolylamine.2HCl were obtained as white crystals.