N-Methylaniline → Methyl 4-{[methyl(phenyl)amino]methyl}benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of methyl 4-formylbenzoate (1 g, 6.1 mmol) and N-methylbenzenamine (650 mg, 6.1 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) was added acetic acid (2 drops) and the mixture was stirred for 0.5 hour. Then sodium cyanoborohydride (660 mg, 10 mmol) was added in portions. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The mixture was washed with water (50 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (50 mL). The organic phase was separated and concentrated to give a residue. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=1:1) to give methyl 4-((methyl(phenyl)amino)methyl)benzoate (400 mg, 26%) as a yellow oil. LRMS (M+H+) m/z: calcd 255.13. found 255. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CD3OD): δ 7.96-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.33 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.18-7.12 (m, 2H), 6.74-6.60 (m, 3H), 4.60 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.02 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence