Triethylamine → alpha-[[(2,3-Dimethoxybenzyl)amino]methyl]-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol

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Reaction Steps

α-Aminomethyl-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol hydrochloride (5.84 g, 25 mmol) was suspended in methanol (30 ml). 2,3-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde (5 g, 30 mmol) was added to the suspension and then triethylamine (3.83 ml, 27.5 mmol) was added dropwise thereto under stirring at room temperature. The resultant solution was heated under reflux for 30 minutes and then sodium borohydride (1.4 g, 37 mmol) was slowly added thereto under stirring under cooling with ice. After the completion of foaming, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. Water was added to the residue, which was made acidic with 3N hydrochloric acid and washed with ether. The cistern was made basic with aqueous ammonia and then subjected to extraction with dichloromethane. The dichloromethane layer was washed with water and then a saturated sodium chloride aqueous solution and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure and the resultant crystals were washed with isopropyl ether to obtain 6.56 g of α-[[(2,3-dimethoxybenzyl)amino]methyl]-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol.

Provenance & Evidence