GENERAL METHOD: 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-one (8.22 g, 50.0 mmol) and benzylamine (5.35 g, 50.0 mmol) were dissolved in methanol and 5% Pt/C catalyst (0.83 g) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60°C and hydrogenated for 24 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the catalyst was removed by filtration and the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation to afford the intermediate N-benzyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-amine in 95% yield. The product was characterized by 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.25 (ddd, J = 16.5, 11.1, 6.8 Hz, 5H), 7.07 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 2H), 6.83 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 2H), 3.86 (d, J = 13.3 Hz, 1H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.73 (d, J = 13.3 Hz, 1H), 2.90 (dd, J = 13.0, 6.5 Hz, 1H), 2.71 (dd, J = 13.5, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 2.61 (dd, J = 13.5, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.10 (d, J = 6.2 Hz, 3H). lc/ms (ESI m/z): 256.4 ( M + H)+.
