I feel like trying something and I would appreciate any inputs on the subject. Round Bottom wrote a great post using methylamine hydrochloride lately.
So I'm thinking about modifying it a bit by preforming the imine before reducing it with the aluminium amalgam.
Here is my plan:
-Place 70 grams MeAM HCl in a Rb flask sitting in an salt water/ice bath.
-Add MeOH cooled at -20.
-Drip in 35% NaOH(at -20)slowly to keep as cold as possible, just enough to liberate the 70 grams.
- Add the ketone
- Bring the pH down to 4.5 with dilute HCl.
- Leave to stir, stoppered.
Now, there are still a lot i need to verify and decide.
I dont know if methylamine HCl is soluble in MeOH, I have yet to find out. In case its not really soluble, and since MeAm is soluble in MeOH, would the 35% NaOH sln still liberate the MeAm and put it in solution?(i dont see why not)
The ketone is miscible with MeOH. It should be a good solvent. The question is how long should I leave under stirring for the imine formation?
Also, if MeAm HCl is soluble in MeOH, then would a stronger base solution be better to cut down on the water?
Then add this to an aluminium amalgam. In one shot, as it shouldnt be more exothermic then RB's write-up.
And finish off with the usual work-up
This procedure should produce less smell and increase yields even more, if proven to work.
Anybody have any thoughts are experience with something similar?
Thanks