General procedure for the synthesis of 2-(3-aminophenyl)-2-methylpropionitrile from 2-methyl-2-(3-nitrophenyl)propanenitrile: 2-methyl-2-(3-nitrophenyl)propanenitrile (0.6 g, 3.15 mmol) prepared in step (1) was dissolved in methanol, and stirred until it was completely dissolved. Pd/C catalyst (0.06 g, 0.56 mmol) was added to the reaction solution and the reaction was stirred at room temperature under hydrogen atmosphere for about 2 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was filtered through a diatomite pad under reduced pressure and the diatomite pad was washed with methanol to recover the product. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to afford the target compound 2-(3-aminophenyl)-2-methylpropionitrile (0.48 g, 95% yield). The product was characterized by 1H-NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.06 (t, 1H), 6.71 (s, 1H), 6.61 (d, 1H), 6.52 (d, 1H), 5.21 (s, 2H), 1.61 (s, 6H). Mass spectrum (ESI+, m/z): 161 [M + H]+.
