Step 2: Synthesis of 4-(aminomethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile; 4-(bromomethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile (14 g, 0.05 mol) was dissolved in 500 mL of methanol. A methanolic solution of 5 M ammonia (100 mL, 0.5 mol) was slowly added and the reaction was stirred for 24 h at room temperature. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporator under reduced pressure to give a yellow solid crude product. The crude product was dissolved in 1M hydrochloric acid solution (100 mL) and extracted with ether (3 x 30 mL) to remove non-basic impurities. Subsequently, the pH of the aqueous phase was adjusted to 9-10 with 1M sodium hydroxide solution and the target product was extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 80 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 4-(aminomethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile (4.7 g, 23 mmol, 43% yield) as a yellow solid. Mass spectrum (electrospray ionization) m/e: 201 [M+H]+.
