Ammonia → 3,5-Difluorobenzylamine

Participants

Reaction Steps

A slurry of Raney nickel in methanol was added to a solution of 3,5-difluorobenzonitrile (12.0 g, 0.0863 mole) in methanol (100 ml) saturated with ammonia and th emixture was hydrogenated for 2.5 hours at 50 pounds pressure. The solution was decanted from the catalyst and the catalyst washed four times with methanol and decanted. The combined decanted solvent was evaporated and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate and extracted twice with 1N hydrochloric acid (50 ml). The acid solution was made basic with 10% sodium hydroxide and extracted with three portions of ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate was washed with water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed to give 3,5-difluorobenzylamine as an oil (12.3 g, 100%).

Provenance & Evidence