Would (1S,2S)-2-amino-1phenyl-1,3-propanediol be a likely precursor to amphetamine after reduction
YES ! RP/HI reduction to reduce the diols on the 1st carbon and 3rd carbon of the propane.
An Efficient Synthesis of (S)-(+)-Amphetamine from (1S,2S)-2-Amino-1-Phenyl-1,3-Propanediol
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 4(7), 1619-1624 (1993) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/amph.phenylpropandiolamine.html)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/amph.phenylpropandiolamine.html)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000476202-file_dacy.gif)
Abstract
Optically active (S)-(+)-amphetamine hydrochloride (5·HCl) was prepared from (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol (1) via its 3-iodo intermediate (3). A phthaloyl group was used for protecting the amine function.
HOW essential... I assume it is either due to cyclization, or the amine group also lost without protection with this route.
The reason is di/polymerization and cyclization, a primary alkyl iodide is very keen on alkylating any nearby amine irreversibly.
i think chemists should spend more time outlining their failures, with %'s, by products and previous failed reactions.
Definitely, that was more common in earlier times, but with the incredibly large scientific information production of today, they feel that only successful reactions are worth the paper they are printed on.
There is however a commercial database of failed reactions available from http://www.isinet.com (http://www.isinet.com)
but it has an outrageous pricing...