To a solution of 105.6 g of 2-phenylbutanone-3 in 110 ml ether was added dropwise a solution of methylmagnesium bromide (prepared from 19.4 g magnesium and 94.7 g methyl bromide in 400 ml of ether) for 60-90 min. Then the mixture was refluxed for 1 hour. After cooling to the mixture was added diluted sulfuric acid and then extracted with ether. Organic layer was dries with sodium sulfate. After evaporation of ether the 2-phenyl-3methylbutanol was distilled, B.P. 116-118°C/20 mm, yield 105 g, nd22 1.5152.
To 25.5 g of NaCN at 10-20°C ware added dropwise under stirring 64 ml of glacial acetic acid and ten at 20°C a mixture of 70 ml concentrated sulfuric acid and 64 ml of glacial acetic acid. To the prepared mixture at 20-25°C was added dropwise 82 g of 2-phenyl-3-methylbutanol. The mixture was stirred at 45-50°C for 10-20 min and then at 75°C for 30 min. To the reaction mixture was added 750 ml of water. The acids was neutralized with sodium carbonate. Product was extracted with ether and distilled. Boiling point of (dimethylbenzylcarbinyl)formamide 173-176°C/0 mm, yield 63 g.
52.3 g of (dimethylbenzylcarbinyl)formamide, 245 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid and 196 ml of water were refluxed for 6 hours. The unreacted compounds was extracted with ether. The residuum was stirred with sodium hydroxide and extracted with ether. By distillation was obtained 48.2 g of 2-amino-2-methyl-3-phenylbutane; B.P. 109-111°C/20 mm.
Hydrochloride of 2-amino-2-methyl-3-phenylbutane have melting point 164166°C.
In practice it is usually used as tartrate salt.
