Sodium methanolate (25% w/w in MeOH, 325 μL, 1.42 mmol, 1.1 eq.) was added to a solution of 2-amino-6-fluorobenzonitrile (176 mg, 1.29 mmol, 1.0 eq.) dissolved in DMF (1.00 mL) at room temperature, and the reaction was stirred for 18 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was concentrated in vacuum and the residue was mixed with deionized water (10 mL) and stirred to precipitate a beige colored precipitate. The precipitate was collected by filtration under reduced pressure, dissolved in ethyl acetate and then concentrated again, ground with hexane, and finally the residual solvent was removed in vacuum to give 2-amino-6-methoxybenzonitrile (158 mg, 1.07 mmol, 83% yield) as a beige amorphous solid; melting point 143-145°C, literature value 136-140°C.
