2-Methoxybenzylhydrazine dihydrochloride

1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethyl ketone (15.27 g, 81.22 mmol, 1.00 equivalent), dimethyl carbonate (50 mL), and sodium hydride (5.53 g, 138.25 mmol, 1.70 equivalent, 60%) were placed in a 500 mL three-necked round-bottom flask. The resulting solution was stirred at 25 °C for 5 minutes. The mixture was concentrated by evaporation, the solid was collected by filtration, and washed with 3×50 mL H₂O to give Methyl 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoylacetate, a yellow solid, yield 19.28 g, 96%.