Hydrochloric Acid → 3-Methyl-4-methoxybenzenamine

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3-methyl-4-methoxynitrobenzene(7.59 g, 45 mmol) in ethanol was added iron powder (35 g), water(5 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (0.4 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 1 hour and then filtered while hot. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in chloroform. The chloroform solution was dried with sodium sulfated and evaporated to give 3-methyl-4-methoxyaniline (7.59 g). To a solution of this compound (6.17 g, 45 mmol) in acetic acid (55 mL) were added dropwise acetic anhydride (4,4 mL, 46 mmol) at room temperature with stirring and then bromine(2,4 mL, 46 mmol) at 50° C. with stirring. The reaction mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 2 hours and poured into ice-water. The resulting precipitate was filtered off, washed with water and dissolved in ethyl acetate. This solution was washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 2-bromo-4-methoxy-5-methylacetanilide as a crude product. Crystallization from diethyl ether gave pure product (8.27 g).

Provenance & Evidence