alpha,alpha,alpha-Trifluoro-3-nitro-o-xylene → Trifluoromethyl toluidine

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Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzotrifluoride (41.0 g, 0.2 m) in methanol (100 ml) was stirred under an atmosphere of dry nitrogen at room temperature and palladium on charcoal catalyst (10% w/w, 1.0 g) was added. The stirred mixture was warmed to 40°-45° and then hydrogen was passed into the solution at atmospheric pressure until the reduction, as observed by thin-layer chromatography, was complete (4-5 hours). The solution was cooled to room temperature and the catalyst removed by filtration. Distillation of the solvent at atmospheric pressure followed by steam distillation of the crude product gave 3-amino-2-methylbenzotrifluoride (32.2 g, 92% yield), as a pale-brown oil which slowly crystallized.

Provenance & Evidence