Hydrochloric Acid → Propiophenone, 3-(benzylmethylamino)-, hydrochloride

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a five liter, 3-necked, round bottom flask equipped with two condensers were added 558.0 g (4.6 mol) methylbenzylamine and 500 ml of ethanol. The solution was stirred while an ethanolic solution of hydrochloric acid (170.0 g of acid dissolved in 2500 ml of ethanol) was added over a one hour period. After hydrochloric acid addition was complete, acetophenone (552.5 g; 4.6 mol) and paraformaldehyde (207.0 g; 6.9 mol) were added. The solution was heated until the liquid began to reflux and then stirred at that temperature overnight. The next morning an additional 137.0 g (4.6 mol) of paraformaldehyde were added and the reaction solution was stirred for an additional five hours at the reflux temperature. The solution was then cooled to room temperature (24° C.) and the solids which precipitated were collected by filtration, washed with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven at 40° C. to provide 1090.0 g (82.0% yield) of 3-[methyl(phenylmethyl)amino]-1-phenyl-1-propanone hydrochloride.

Provenance & Evidence