Hydrochloric Acid → 2-(2-Chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-amine

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium cyanide (10.4 g) was added portionwise to a stirred solution of the above benzyl bromide (25 g) in a 2:1 mixture of ethanol and water (250 ml). The mixture was stirred for one hour at 50° C., poured into water and extracted with ether. The extract gave 2-chloro-5-methoxy-phenylacetonitrile (m.p. 62°-65° C.). 10M Boranemethylsulphide complex (11.3 ml) was added dropwise under nitrogen to a refluxing solution of the above phenylacetonitrile (18.6 g) in tetrahydrofuran (150 ml). The mixture was heated under reflux for 2 hours and dilute hydrochloric acid was added dropwise and the acidified mixture heated at 95° C. for one hour. The cooled mixture was washed with ether, basified with dilute sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with ether. The extract yielded 2 -chloro-5-methoxyphenethylamine as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence