Synthesis
General procedure for the synthesis of 1-(3-methylphenyl)ethylamine from 3'-methylacetophenone: an ethanol solution of 3'-methylacetophenone (400 mg, 2.13 mmol), Ti(Oi-Pr)4 (1.25 mL, 4.25 mmol) and ammonia (2M, 5.30 mL, 10.6 mmol) was stirred for 24 h at room temperature under argon protection. Subsequently, NaBH4 (120 mg, 3.19 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 24 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to 2 with 6 M HCl and washed with tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME) (3 x 20 mL). Next, the pH was adjusted to about 10 with NaOH (pelletized) and the mixture was extracted with TBME (6 x 30 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried over MgSO4 and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give 210 mg (1.11 mmol, 52%) of 1-(3-methylphenyl)ethylamine as a yellow oil.
References
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