Hydrochloric Acid → N-[2-(4-amino-2-methylphenylamino)ethyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide

1.7 g of nitro derivative (1) prepared above and about 80 ml of methanol were introduced into a 200 ml autoclave (hydrogenator) equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The solution obtained was degassed with nitrogen. 0.2 g of palladium-on-charcoal (5% humidity, comprising 50% water) was added thereto. The reaction mixture was stirred, while flushing once with hydrogen, and hydrogen was then introduced therein at a pressure of about 5 bar. After reaction for 4 hours, the reactor was purged with nitrogen. The reaction mixture was filtered quickly through Celite under a gentle pressure of nitrogen. The filtrate: was recovered in a pre-cooled solution of methanol comprising about 3 equivalents of hydrogen chloride gas. The resulting mixture was rinsed several times with methanol under a stream of nitrogen. The concentrated solution thus obtained was then treated with ether. The product obtained, in the form of a pale pink paste, was stirred and then rinsed several times with acetonitrile and ether under nitrogen. 1.65 g of expected product (2) were isolated in the form of a slightly pink white powder. The proton and 13C NMR spectra and the microanalyses were in accordance with the expected structure of the product.