Triethylamine → 1-(2,4,6-Trichlorophenyl)-2-propanone O-methyloxime

A solution of O-methyl-hydroxylamine hydrochloride (0.79 g, 9.4 mmol) in methanol (20 ml) was treated with triethylamine (1.32 ml, 9.4 mmol) followed by 1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-propan-2-one (1.5 g, 6.31 mmole). The resulting mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched with water and methanol was evaporated off. The resulting aqueous medium was extracted with ethylacetate (3×50 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure (100 mbar; 45° C.). The resulting crude mass was purified by column chromatography using 60-120μ mesh silica gel and product collected at 2% ethyl acetate in hexane as elution system to give 1-(2,4,6-Trichloro-phenyl)-propan-2-one O-methyl-oxime (1.2 g, 76%), which was taken up for further reduction.