O-Toluidine → 2,2,2'-Trimethylpropionanilide

Participants

Reaction Steps

A biphasic solution of o-toluidine (107.2 g, 1.0 mol) in methylene chloride (500 ml) and water (150 ml) containing sodium carbonate (69 g, 0.65 mol) was treated with trimethylacetyl chloride (120.6 g, 1.0 mol). The rate of addition of trimethylacetyl chloride was adjusted so as to maintain the reaction at gentle reflux. After 45 minutes the addition was complete. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude N-[(2-methyl)phenyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide was slurried in 2% aqueous HCl, filtered and washed with H2O until the filtrate was neutral. After drying in vacuo (50° C., 20 mm), N-[(2-methyl)phenyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanamide (178 g, 0.93 mol) was obtained in 93% yield (m.p. 109°-110° C).

Provenance & Evidence