Step 1: 4-methyl-2-nitro-1-trifluoromethylbenzene (1 g, 4.8 mmol) and 30 mL of methanol were added to a 100 mL reaction vial. Pd/C catalyst (0.2 g, 10% content) was then added. The reaction mixture was stirred under hydrogen atmosphere (1 atm, 25°C) for 4 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was filtered to remove the catalyst and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/petroleum ether = 1:10) to afford 2-amino-4-methylbenzotrifluoride (0.68 g, 80% yield). Mass spectrometry analysis: [M+1]+ 176.2.
