1.5 mole magnesium and 1 mole 3-phenylpropyl bromide were used for
preparing of ester solution of Grignar reagent. 1 mole (3,4-
dimethoxyphenyl)dimethylaminoacetonitrile in absolute ester was added to
above reagent dropwise. Then the mixture was heated for 3 hours to reflux.
On cooling it was poured into ice with 12% hydrochloric acid. The ester layer
was separated. The water layer was alkalized with concentrate ammonia and
ammonium chloride. The precipitated oil was dissolved in ester, dried over
sodium sulfate and distilled in vacuum after removing of ester to give α-(3,4-
dimethoxyphenyl)-N,N-dimethylbenzenebutanamine (vertabutine); BP: 166°-
168°C/0.1 mm Hg. Yield 85%. The free base may be turn into colorless
hydrochloride by adding of equivalent of hydrochloric acid in ester; MP: 146°-
148°C.
