Methyl 4-cyano-2-fluorobenzoate → Methyl 4-(aminomethyl)-2-fluorobenzoate

Combine a solution of methyl 4-cyano-2-fluoro-benzoate (1 g, 5.58 mmol) in absolute ethanol (42 mL) and acetic acid (1.9 mL) with a mixture of 10% Pd/C (Degussa type E101, 0.17 g, 0.078 mmol) in water (15.6 mL) at room temperature under nitrogen. Purge with nitrogen and then with hydrogen at 55 psi and stir for 1 h. Purge the reaction with nitrogen, filter through Celite® and wash the filter cake with ethanol (100 mL), THF (100 mL) and isopropanol (100 mL). Concentrate in vacuo and purify by SCX chromatography and then chromatography on silica gel (40 g RediSep® column) eluting with dichloromethane/2M ammonia in methanol (99:1 to 9:1 gradient over 30 min; 35 mL/min) to afford the desired intermediate as a white solid (0.602 g, 59%).