Acetic Acid → (R)-methyl 4-(1-((1-methylcyclohexyl)methylamino)ethyl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of (R)-methyl 4-(1-aminoethyl)benzoate (0.12 g, 0.67 mmol) in methanol (2.97 mL, 73.33 mmol) was added 1-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxaldehyde (0.093 g, 0.74 mmol) and acetic acid (0.152 mL, 2.67 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature whereupon sodium cyanoborohydride (63.1 mg, 1.00 mmol) was added and the mixture further stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the residual sodium cyanoborohydride quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The mixture was extracted into ethyl acetate, the organic layer washed with brine and the solvent evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained was purified via silica chromatography (0-5% MeOH/DCM) to afford the title compound as a colorless oil (123.0 mg, 63%). LC-MS: (FA) ES+ 290.

Provenance & Evidence