3-(2-Cyanoethoxymethyl)-2-nitrotoluene → 2-(3-Aminopropoxymethyl)-6-methylaniline

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Reaction Steps

A solution of 12 g (55 mMol) of the nitro compound (2) in 140 ml of glacial acetic acid was combined with 550 mg of platinum dioxide (PtO2) and shaken at room temperature under a hydrogen atmosphere of 50 pounds per square inch (psi) for 6 hours. It was then filtered to remove the catalyst and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 100 ml of n-butanol and the solution washed twice with 50 ml of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The aqueous washes were combined and extracted two 75 ml portions of n-butanol. The combined butanol extracts were combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and evaporated. The oily residue was purified on a preparative liquid chromatograph using silica gel as the adsorbent and eluting with 40:10:1 (v/v/v) chloroform (CHCl3):methanol:conc. ammonium hydroxide. This yielded 3.15 g (30% yield) of 2-(3-aminopropoxymethyl)-6-methylaniline (3) as an oil.

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