SM2 - 3-11-2013 at 13:21
Specifically, if one were to reduce a typical nitro-olefin (1-phenyl-2-nitroethene) to 2-phenylethylamine, the freebase of what is sold all over the
internet and in health food stores, could one conceivably add formalin
into the reducing pot, and incorporate a carbon onto the amine (as it is being made) being left with, instead of of with the above example, with
2-phenylethmethylamine.
Does anyone think a little acetone solvent in the one-pot would lead to side reactions with the desired amine? Speculation welcome, thank you kindly.
mnick12 - 3-11-2013 at 21:28
Without references or experimental this should be in beginnings, but that is not up to me.
To clarify:
Are you asking if one could do a one-pot reduction of phenylnitrostyrene to the N-methylated phenethylamine? If so I would say no way. The reduction
of nitrostyrenes in one step is usually pretty messy with anything besides LAH and the like. Additionally any environment capable of fully reducing
nitrostyrenes would surely reduce formaldehyde, and acetone for that matter.
Do you have a specific target molecule? Or a proposed reaction? It is hard to even speculate without the necessary details.