Ammonium Hydroxide → 4-Amino-3-methylbenzonitrile

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Reaction Steps

4-Cyano-2-methylaniline was synthesized as previously described (J. Med. Chem. (1991), 34, 3295): To a solution of 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzonitrile (2.0 g, 12.34 mmol) in acetic acid (20 L) was added dropwise a solution of SnCl2 (9.6 g, 49.38 mmol) in conc. HCl (20 mL). After stirring for 3 h, the mixture was added carefully to a saturated NH4OH solution (120 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was extracted with EtOAc (4×30 mL). The combined organic layers were sequentially washed with H2O (30 mL) and a saturated NaCl solution (30 mL), dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (10% EtOAc/hex) to give 4-cyano-2-methylaniline as a white solid (1.48 g, 92%): TLC (30% EtOAc in hexane) Rf0.23. This material was used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence