So I was reading Reductions in Organic Chemistry by Milos Hudlicky when I came across the fact that Ethylenediamine can be used in dissolving metal reductions in place of NH3. Know I knew that methylamine gas could be used in place of NH3 but methylamine is just as hard to obtain if not harder. I am assuming that the ethylenediamine reduction can reduce ephedrine, if it indeed can be done why isn't this common place? Ethylenediamine is much safer to work with than anhydrous NH3. Also, are the same molar equivalents of ethylenediamine used when reducing ephedrine as when using NH3? Does one need to reflux the ethylenediamine during the reduction or will it reduce the ephedrine at below its boiling point?

I had already searched the forum for ethylenediamine and didn't see much about this topic. Is there any specific thread that you are referring to that contains relevant info.

Seeing as the boiling point of Ethylene Diamine is 116 °C which IIRC is well below the BP of N-Methyl-Amphetamine I would theorize that a simple distillation would work.

If that is not the case there is always the solubility issues that could be worked with performing repetative liquid/liquid extractions with Saturated brine solution and ether to remove the EDA from the freebased amphetamine. Extract the main EDA with saturated brine and Et₂O 3 times and combine the portions then wash the ether with brine until PH of the H₂O is stable enough. The EDA will raise the PH of the water dramaticly if it is still being extracted which should give a general idea as to when enough washing has been performed.

Neutralization with HCL and evaporation would allow for recovering of the Ethylene Diamine Dihydrochloride if desired.

If anyone has contact with an old member who went by a few names one being Handsclean they would do well to speak with him if possible at the moment.
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that was actually a patent
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5675038.html