Benzylamine Synthesis

[Cyrax]

I am looking inspiration about a easy & scalable benzylamine synthesis.
I think about benzylchoride + NH3.  What solvent do I use?  Would an NH3(aq.) (or NH4OH) solution work or maybey better NH3 in MeOH in .  There will be the problem of multi alkylation, but what about using an excess NH3 and slowly adding benzylchloride, and afterwards a fractional distillation?

[Dr_Heckyll]

Patent US2987548

Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive by Men at Work
...tells my tale.

[Antoncho]

The patent above makes use of 'a rocking bomb autoclave', although says that 60 C and above is sufficient.

Patent US2608584

(referred to by the one Dr_Heckyll posted) uses low temps (5-50 C), but sucks volumetrically - 1 liter of aq. NH3/ether per 43 g of the product (the yield from BzCl - 60%).


How about this

Patent GB619827

- looks the best thus far.








Antoncho

[Cyrax]

Dr_Heckyll, thanks for that ref.  The procedure from US patent 2608584 (example 1) is exactly what I had in mind.

Antoncho, the decomposition of benzyl urea looks very nice, very nice indeed  

Is benzylamine a suspicious compound to buy?

[Dr_Heckyll]

Even NaCl is a suspicious compound to buy if you walk in the store and say: "Hands up! I want some table salt!" But as there is no commonly known abusable/illegal/controlled/explosive/poisonous/terroristic compound known to be made from BzNH2, I'd say give it a try if it brings you closer to Nirvana to possess some of that magic BzNH2.

Sorry, Cyrax, didn't mean it personal, didn't mean to make fun of you, but couldn't help it either in the frame of mind I'm in right now, after a bottle of good wine and a lack of good sleep in this full moon night. Good night.


Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive by Men at Work
...tells my tale.