Add iron powder (3.86 g, 69 mmol), water (5 mL) and concentrated HCL (0.5 mL) sequentially to a solution of commercially available 2-bromo-3-nitrotoluene (5 g, 23 mmol) in methanol (100 mL) at room temperature and heat the mixture at reflux for 125 h. Remove the solvents under reduced pressure, suspend the residue in water (400 mL) and extract with chloroform (3 x 250 mL). Dry the combined organic extracts over MGS04 and remove the solvents under reduced pressure to afford 2-bromo-3-methylphenylamine as an amber oil (4.45 g, 100percent): 1H NMR (CDC13) 5 2.30 (s, 3H), 4.00 (br s, 2H), 7.60 (m, 2H), 7.00 (t, 1H).
