Benzylethanolamine → (4-Benzylmorpholin-2-yl)methanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

The first steps (B1 and B2) in the synthesis of the morpholin-2-yl methanol intermediates (compounds 54 and 56) of general reaction Scheme B, is to react epichlorohydrin with N-benzylethanolamine to form (4-benzylmorpholin-2-yl)methanol. (R) or (S) stereoisomers as appropriate, are formed using either the (R) or (S) form of epichlorohydrin. The reaction may take place in solution or in an organic solvent, such as a mixture of water and isopropanol. A preferred solvent is 1:1 water/isopropanol. Beneficially, epichlorohydrin may be dissolved in a pre-formed solution of N-benzylethanolamine. Conveniently, the reaction may be performed at room temperature (e.g. between 20 and 25° C.; preferably between 23 and 25° C.), and optionally may be continued at a lower temperature, such as −20° C. At −20° C. the reaction may be continued overnight (e.g. for a further 8 to 16 hours).

Provenance & Evidence