I dug this up somewhere...
Chemicals:
Ethanol (EtOH)
57% Hydrogen iodide (57% HI, see MISC section)
Zn metal
aqueous ammonia (NH3)
epsom
1-Add 119g of ethanol into a flask.
2-Add enough 57% HI to a separate flask so it conatins ~340g of HI.
3-Add a couple pinches of zinc metal to the HI, and reflux it until all of the Zn goes into the solution.
4-Cool the HI back down to room temp, and add it to the ethanol. Reflux solution for 3 hours.
5-When done, setup for distillation, and distill out unreacted ethanol/EtI (ethyl iodide) mixture (b.p. 72-79 deg C).
6-Split the EtI and ethanol fraction in half, and add enough ammonia solution one half the EtI/ethanol mix that contains ~44g of NH3.
7-Reflux that mix with cold ass water in the condensor, and a balloon over the flask to aid in keeping ammonia in, for about 1 hour.
8-When done refluxing, setup for distillation.
9-First distill out the ethylamine produced, then any unreacted EtI/Ethanol.
10-Add the other half of the EtI/ethanol solution to the freshly distilled ethylamine.
11-Reflux this solution for another hour or so.
12-Setup for distillation again, and distill out unreacted ethylamine. Then distill out your diethylamine.
13-Use procedure above to make your diethylamine anhydrous.
My question is. Can HBr be substituted for the HI?

?
Vl_