Acetic Acid → [2-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]-ethyl amine

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 10 g (51.4 mmol) of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone in 50 mL of methanol was cooled to 0° C. and was treated with 50 mL of 2M solution of ethylamine in methanol. To the reaction mixture 11.5 g (0.183 mmol) of sodium cyanoborohydride was added, and the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to 6.5-7 by adding glacial acetic acid. The mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature for 4 days. This was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 150 mL of water was added. The pH of the resulting solution was adjusted to 1 using 6 N HCl. This was extracted with 4×150 mL of ether and the organic layers were discarded. The pH of the aqueous layer was adjusted to 14, and the solution was extracted with 6×100 mL of chloroform. The organic layers were combined, dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated to dryness to give 10.6 g (47.4 mmol, 92%) of 2A as a pale yellow oil (M+H, 224).

Provenance & Evidence