To the solution of 5-bromo-3-methylpicolinaldehyde 81-1 (1.0 g, 5 mmol), (2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methanamine 81-2 (0.83 g, 5 mmol), acetic acid (0.9 g, 15 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was added Na(OAc)3BH (2.46 g, 15 mmol) at room temperature. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with aqueous Na2CO3 and brine. The organic phase was dried to give crude 1-(5-bromo-3-methylpyridin-2-yl)-N-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)methanamine 81-3. MS m/z 351.2 (M+1).
