Hydrochloric Acid → (+-)-3,4-Dimethoxyamphetamine

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone (51.1 g, 0.26 m) is dissolved in methanol (780 ml), sodium cyanoborohydride (11.3 g, 0.18 m) is added and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 67 hours. The reaction mixture is adjusted to pH 2 with concentrated HCl and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in H2O (250 ml), the aqueous layer is extracted with ether (3×) and then rendered alkaline with KOH and extracted with CH2Cl2 (3×). After drying, the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure and the product is distilled at 112°-5°/0.5 mm to yield (VIII) (33.88 g, 67%).

Provenance & Evidence