Hydrochloric Acid → 1-(Diphenylmethyl)-3-[(phenylmethyl)amino]azetidine-3-carboxylic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of the 1-(diphenylmethyl)-3-[(phenylmethyl)amino]azetidine-3-carbonitrile (0.80 g, 2.2 mmol), prepared using procedures similar to those described in Kozikowski and Fauq Synlett 1991, 11, 783-4, in ethanol (30 mL) was added solid sodium hydroxide (7.5 mmol), and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 days. Water (6 mL) was added to the reaction mixture and stirring was continued at 90° C. for 2 h. The pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to 5 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and a white solid precipitated. The mixture was cooled, diluted with water (50 mL) and the solid was collected, washed with water then dried in vacuo to give the 1-(diphenylmethyl)-3-[(phenylmethyl)amino]azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (0.75 g, 88% yield), MS (EI) for C24H24N2O2: 373 (MH+).

Provenance & Evidence