Manufacturing Process
0.5 g of 2-(N-methylamino)-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanol was treated with 1 cc of thionyl chloride at room temperature. A vigorous reaction set in. The gummy material was stirred with a small amount of petroleum ether and allowed to stand overnight. The brown crystalline solid after washing with petroleum ether was recrystallized from a small amount of absolute alcohol with addition of charcoal followed by filtration. On dilution with several volumes of ether and refrigeration white granular crystals of 1-chloro-2-(Nmethamino)-2-methyl-1-phenyl propane hydrochloride were deposited.
250 mg of 1-chloro-2-(N-methylamino)-2-methyl-1-phenyl propane
hydrochloride was dissolved in 2 cc of warm methanol and hydrogenated in
the presence of 250 mg of palladium barium carbonate catalyst with provision
for the absorption of the carbon-dioxide formed. When the theoretical amount
of hydrogen had been taken up the mixture was filtered to remove the
catalyst, concentrated to small volume and extracted with ether. After
separating the ether the residue was further concentrated yielding a white
crystalline solid. This solid on solution in water, strongly alkalizing, extraction
with ether and removal of the ether yielded 2-(N-methylamino)-2-methyl-1-
phenyl propane identified as the picrate by melting point 155°C to 156°C and
mixed melting point 154.0°C to 154.5°C, with an authentic sample melting at
150°C to 153°C.
