So.. back to reductive amination of formaline..
Did some reading, and it seems
to me, reaction benefits greatly from weak lewis acid, ZnCl2 or, Ti(IV).
I tried to do something along the lines of Tetrah. Letters. 3, 261, 1973;
it is where they were methylating holafebrine.
Also NaBH4 with acetic acid, using same routine as with NaCNBH3 KrZ (?) used;
those things are still spinning.
I have about 3g of nice crystalls of tryptamine left; and I am going to try these, eehh..
ideas:
1) do reaction in beta-mercaptoethanol, rather than in methanol. thinking that thio-acetal will form from
formaline and b-mercaptoethanol. (5-mem ring with O and S in 1,5 positions, or something)
i have HSCH2CH2SH, but that is more expensive than bmet.; which will be, apparently, nice mild methylation agent combined with weak lewis acid and subsequent reduction.
2) try different catalysts: ZnCl2, TiCl4; and Fe(III)-AmmoniumCitrate
this is silly, but who knows: do reaction in 4A molecular seives...stirring the whole thing with mechanical stirrer.
...
Good thing, i have few gramms of methylated salt, which I can de-alkylated;
but that is saved for more desperate times.
General sentiment:
If there were good acid on the streets, who would go into that much trouble...
Z_Hound
Any Possession is a Demonic Possession!