The search engine and PiHKAL were not as thorough as I had hoped in answering a question I have. Hopefully one of you readers can help.

I (theoretically) added 148 grams MDP2P dropwise to 77 grams of MeNH2 freebase (about 3X molar quantity) in ~700 ml very cold MeOH and stirred it with a handful of silica gel beads for 30 min. Then I decanted the orange solution to a clean flask and added 50 grams NaCNBH3 (about 50% excess over theory). I then let it stir and come to room temperature.

I am now reading about buffering this rxn. with acetic acid, and I understand the purpose and everything, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a more accurate idea of just how much this really affects the reaction, and how necessary it is when using MeNH2 freebase. Anyone?

The Org. Syn. procedure does not call for any acetic acid.

http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/prep.asp?prep=cv6p0499