3,4-(Methylenedioxy)aniline

dark brown to black low melting solid

3,4-(Methylenedioxy)aniline is an pharmaceutically important aniline derivative. It undergoes N-alkylation with cyclic secondary alkylamines in the presence of Shvo catalyst to yield N-arylpyrrolidines. 3,4-(Methylenedioxy)aniline was used in the synthesis of γ-glutamylanilides.

A 10mL-sealed tube was charged with 5-bromobenzo[d][1,3]dioxole (1mmol), CuI (19mg, 0.1mmol), and DMEDA (13mg/16μL, 0.15mmol) in NH4OH (1.5mL, 27% NH3 in H2O) and DMSO (0.5mL). The tube was flushed with Ar gas before being capped. The solution was stirred at 130°C or 110°C for the given times. The resulting suspension was cooled to room temperature, and saturated aqueous Na2SO4 solution (5mL) was added. The resulting solution was extracted with EtOAc (20mL×3). The organic layer was separated, dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography to give 3,4-(Methylenedioxy)aniline.

Crystallise the base from pet ether and/or distil it in a vacuum. The hydrochloride has m 198o(dec). [Sonn & Benirschke Chem Ber 54 1734 1921, Beilstein 19 H 328, 19 II 341, 19 III/IV 4056.]