Acetic Acid → 3-(Benzylamino-methyl)-benzoic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Suspended 3-aminomethyl-benzoic acid methyl ester hydrochloride (100 mg. 0.99 mmol) in 3 mL of dichloroethane in a microwave tube and added 100 uL of AcOH. To this was added benzaldehyde (0.10 mL, 1.00 mmol). The mixture was sealed and heated at 120° C. for 20 minutes resulting in a homogeneous solution. 2 mL of MeOH was added and the mixture was treated with NaBH4 (56.8 mg, 1.50 mmol) resulting in gas evolution. The mixture stirred for 19 h. The mixture was quenched with careful addition of 5% HCl resulting in a bi-phasic mixture. The aqueous phase was removed and treated with 50×2-200 Dowex acidic ion exchange resin. The product was liberated with 10% NH3 in MeOH and concentrated to give 197 mg of 3-(benzylamino-methyl)-benzoic acid methyl ester, partially contaminated with starting benzyl amine (15%).

Provenance & Evidence