The general procedure for the synthesis of (3-bromophenyl)dimethylamine from 3-bromobenzyl bromide was as follows:(i) Dimethylamine (51.4 g, 1.14 mol) was reacted with 3-bromobenzyl bromide (95 g, 0.38 mol) in benzene at 5 °C. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was acidified with hydrochloric acid and subsequently extracted with 3N hydrochloric acid aqueous solution. The aqueous extract was adjusted to alkaline with aqueous potassium hydroxide and the oily product was isolated by distillation to afford 3-bromo-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (65 g, 80% yield) with a boiling point of 118°C/20 mmHg.
