To a solvent mixture of acetone (8 mL) and water (16 mL), m-aminoanisole (1 g, 8.12 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.68 g, 12.18 mmol), and 3-phenyl-2-propenoyl chloride (1.62 g, 9.74 mmol) were added sequentially. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was poured into ice water and extracted with ethyl acetate (EtOAc). The organic phases were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford N-(3-methoxyphenyl)cinnamamide (compound 3) in 98% yield.
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