Phenylacetone → N-alpha-phenyl-ethyl-3,4-dimethoxy-amphetamine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Weinges et al., Chem. Z., 94, 728 (1970), reported on a stereospecific synthesis of (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane and (R)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane in which initial reductive amination of the achiral 1-phenylpropan-2-one with either (R)- or (S)-α-phenethylamine in the presence of hydrogen and Raney nickel under high pressure produced 1-[1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-ylamino]1-phenylethane. Hydrogenolysis of this product then yielded (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane or (R)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane, respectively.

Provenance & Evidence