Methylamine → 4-(Methylaminomethyl)benzonitrile

A solution of α-bromo-p-tolunitrile (4.90 g, 25 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was added dropwise to a stirring solution of 40% aqueous methylamine (21.5 mL, 250 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred 0.5 h, then concentrated in vacuo. Water was added to the residue and extracted 2× with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give 1.41 g of 4-(methylaminomethyl)benzonitrile as a yellow oil containing ˜30% of N,N-bis(4-benzonitrile)methyl-amine. The, aqueous was adjusted to pH>8 and extracted 2× with 9:1 dichloromethane:methanol. The combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give 1.13 g of pure 4-(methylamino)benzonitrile as a colorless oil.