Ammonia → Tert-butyl 2-(aminomethyl)-2-ethylbutanoate

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Reaction Steps

29.21 g of 2-cyano-2-ethylbutyric acid tert-butyl ester, dissolved in 300 ml of ethanol, which contains 4% ammonia, are hydrogenated under normal pressure at 40° in the presence of 6 g of Raney nickel. After separating off from the catalyst, the batch is concentrated by evaporation in vacuo and the liquid that remains is distilled in vacuo to yield 2-aminomethyl-2-ethylbutyric acid tert-butyl ester, boiling point 65° at 0.6 mbar.

Provenance & Evidence