Diethylamine → 2-methoxyethyldiethylamine

A solution prepared by mixing together 100 mL of diethylamine and 85 mL of 2-methoxyethyl chloride (both available from Kanto Chemical) was placed in an autoclave and reacted at 120° C. for 12 hours. The internal pressure during the reaction was 0.28 MPa (2.9 kgf/cm2). This yielded a mixture of deposited crystals and reaction solution to which was added, following the 12 hours of reaction, 200 mL of an aqueous solution prepared by dissolving 40 g of sodium hydroxide (Katayama Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) in 200 mL of water. Each of the two divided organic phases that formed as a result was separated off with a separatory funnel and subjected twice to extraction with 250 mL of tetrahydrofuran (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.). The separated organic phases were then combined and washed with a saturated saline solution, following which potassium carbonate (Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was added to remove water and vacuum filtration was carried out. The solvent in the resulting organic phase was distilled off in a rotary evaporator, after which the residue was subjected to normal-pressure distillation, yielding 21 g of 2-methoxyethyldiethylamine.