explanation of Al Hg Amalgum

[t4091]

Can someone explain what happens in the reaction, and what are the best chemicals to clean and extract the freebase after the amalgum is finished.

[Rhodium]

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/alhg.osmium.html

[Protium]

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/alhg.osmium.html

+ a whole lot more in the search engine

I'm kind of 'on the fence' as to whether or not this should be in the newbee forum, but today is a great day.....

The simplest explanation of what is going on, and I assume you are talking about the nitro Al/Hg, is that the nitromethane is reduced to a primary amine (methylamine) by the amalgamated aluminum which condenses with the ketone to form an imine.  This imine is further reduced to the secondary amine, also by the Al/Hg.  Give you three guesses what the secondary amine is  

The best (most commonly preferred) solvents to use are toluene or xylene, and an NaOH wash, a brine (saturated salt solution) wash, and a water wash are customary.  Some people like to dry the solvent, prior to making the hydrochloride salt, with baked epsoms; but if your yeilds are good you probably won't need to bother.

EDIT: However, my timing seems to be horrible.

Pr(+)tium