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Author: Subject: Expected yield from LiAlH4 reduction of nitropropene to alkyl amine?
zephler1
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[*] posted on 8-10-2014 at 04:46
Expected yield from LiAlH4 reduction of nitropropene to alkyl amine?


Some references suggest at best, one can expect a 65% yield (using 5 equivalents of LiAlH4); does anyone have any real world experience with yields from this reaction?

There is a document on Rhodium "Large scale MDA from piperonal" in which the authors use just a 2x excess of LiAlH4, explicitly state that they do not reflux the mixture being reduced and that they get a 77% yield. This statement is highly suspect as not one published paper comes close to that yield, and bear mind that these papers all use a 5x stoichiometreic ratio of LiAlH4 and they reflux - I have a hard time believing that the key to higher yields and better atom economy is the lack of refluxing - any comments?
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8-10-2014 at 06:35
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[*] posted on 8-10-2014 at 18:35


oops, this looks a bit too obviously drug related to be on here!

LAH reductions are not very fun. LAH is dangerous blah blah flammable ethers blah blah

Just run it with Al/Hg and see what you get. Workups can get complex quickly with LAH. I have reduced novel phenyl propyl nitroalkenes using aluminum turnings in good consistent yield of roughly 50%, just run with that.

If you're dealing with nitrostyrenes, its best to use Zn/acid reduction, borohydride and then Zn reduction, or borohydride then Pd/C CTH reduction. LAH if you have plenty of it and THF to use as the solvent because ether SUCKS




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