Ammonia → 2,6-Dimethyl-4-(2-phenylethyl)pyridine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Liquid ammonia (150 ml) was introduced into a 250 ml three-necked round bottomed flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, dropping funnel and outlet tube and immersed in a dry ice/ethanol bath. Sodium amide was generated by addition of 20 mg of iron nitrate (Fe3+) followed by metallic sodium (2.09 g, 0.09 mol). The deep blue solution was stirred for one hour and a solution of collidine (1) (10.06 g, 0.083 mol) in 20 ml of dry diethylether was introduced into the reaction by addition over a period of 15 min. The resultant yellow suspension was stirred for an additional 45 min, followed by the addition or benzylchloride (6.33 g, 0.05 mol) dissolvedin 10 ml of dry diethylether. The reaction mixture was stirred for 45 min and excess sodium amide was neutralized by addition of ammonium chloride (4.82 g, 0.09 mol) dissolved in 20 ml of H2O. Ammonia was evaporated and the residue was partitioned between water and diethylether. The collected etheral phase was dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The brown residual oil was fractionated, and a fraction distilling at 130° C./0.1 mmHg was colelcted.

Provenance & Evidence