Quoting from: Yahontov, Sintez khimiko-farmatsevticheskih preparatov, p174.
To solution of 58,5g succindialdehyde in 1000ml water was added 2N solution of NaOH till pH=5-6. Then to solution of succindialdehyde were mixtured: 237g of sodium acetate, 117g of 97% acetondicarboxylic acid and 53,5g of 98,5% methylamine hydrochloride. After mixturing of all components, solution's pH is usually = 4-4,5. Mixture was stirring 30min at 42-43° (NB! the CO2 isolation and foaming) and cooled to 30°, then 251g of technical potassium carbonat was added and mixture cooled to 18-20°.
Product was extracted with dichloromethane (900/600/200ml). Combined extractions were dried over Na2SO4(till content of moisture = 0,3%) and dichloromethane was distill off at atmospheric pressure (residuums of vehicle were distilled off in vacuum of water-pump at 80-100°; for more better of volatile admixture moving off, the product dissolved in 30ml of dry benzene with following distilling off in vacuum).
Tropinone was redistilled at 83-85° at 5mm/Hg. Yield is 75,5g or 72%(for recalculation by the succindialdehyde).
There's a hole in our soul that we fill with dope
And we're feeling fine.