Synthesis
3-Amino-cyclohex-2-enone (1901 g, 17.1 mol) was dissolved in ethanol (11.5 L) and NaOH (20% aqueous solution, 275 mL) in a 20 L autoclave. Raney nickel (366 g, 4.28 mol, 0.25 equiv) was added and the reactor was purged with hydrogen. The progress of the reaction was monitored using TLC (20% MeOH / CH2Cl2, Rf starting material = 0.5, Rf product = 0.14) until no more starting material could be seen, and the reaction mixture was filtered to remove Ruanene nickel and concentrated in Vacuo to give a yellow oil, which crystallized on standing to give a hygroscopic yellow solid (1945 g, 99%). The HRMS (FAB) calculation for C6H13NO + H was 116.1070.
