Methylamine → 1,1,1-trifluoro-N-methyl-methanesulfonamide

A weighed pressure reactor (available from Parr Instrument Co., Moline, Ill.) is charged with dichloromethane (100 mL) and is then cooled using liquid nitrogen. Methylamine is introduced from a cylinder via a stainless steel tube that is connected to a valve on the reactor. The reactor is periodically weighed, and methylamine is added until 20 g have been added. Trifluoromethanesulfonylfluoride is then introduced into the reactor from a cylinder via a stainless steel tube until 97.9 g have been added. The pressure reactor is then sealed and is placed in a motorized rocker and is rocked and allowed to warm to room temperature. After a period of about 6 hours after the reactor reaches room temperature, it is slowly vented to the atmosphere by opening the valve. The product residue is washed with 10 weight percent aqueous HCl and the organic phase is then dried over MgSO4. The mixture is filtered and the solvent is removed from the filtrate using a rotary evaporator to afford the product.