Patent US4242274
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the manufacture of methadone and more particularly to an
improved process for preparing the methadone precursor 2,2-diphenyl-4-(dimethylamino)-pentane nitrile.
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Abstract
A process for the preparation of 2,2-diphenyl-4-(dimethylamino)-pentane nitrile. A charge mixture is prepared comprising diphenylacetonitrile, 1-(dimethylamino)-2-halopropane, a base, water, a water-immiscible organic solvent, and a quaternary salt selected from a group consisting of tetrabutylammonium halides, tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium halides, benzyltriphenylphosphonium halides, and methyltrialkyl (C.sub.8 -C.sub.10) ammonium halides. The mixture is heated under an inert atmosphere to effect formation of 2,2-diphenyl-4-(dimethylamino)-pentane nitrile by reaction of diphenylacetonitrile, 1-(dimethylamino)-2-halopropane and a base.
1-2-3 ACiD