2-(3-methoxyazetidin-1-yl)acetonitrile

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: A mixture of nitrile 276 (1.76 g, 14.0 mmol), cNH3 (7 mL) and Raney Nickel (50% slurry in water, 4.6 g) in EtOH (100 mL) was stirred under H2 (60 psi) for 5 h. The mixture was filtered through Celite, washed with EtOH (50 mL) and the solvent was evaporated to give crude diamine 277 (950 mg, 52%) as a yellow oil, which was used without further purification: 1H NMR δ 4.03 (p, J=5.8 Hz, 1H, CHO), 3.58-3.63 (m, 2H, CH2N), 3.25 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.88-2.93 (m, 2H, CH2N), 2.67 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H, CH2N), 2.52 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H, CH2N), NH2 not observed; MS (APCI) m/z 131 (MH+, 100%); HRMS (FAB+) calcd for C6H15N2O (MH+) m/z 131.1184, found 131.1183. The mixture was filtered through Celite washed with EtOH (50 mL) the solvent was evaporated

Conditions: temp:50.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: A solution of 3-methoxyazetidine hydrochloride (275) (MacKenzie et al., PCT Int Appl. WO 9605193, 1996) (3.0 g, 24.4 mmol), aqueous glycolonitrile (55%, 3.4 mL, 34.3 mmol) and Et3N (5.2 mL, 37.3 mmol) was stirred at 20° C. for 3 h, then heated at 50° C. for 1 h. The solution was cooled and partitioned between water (50 mL) and Et2O (50 mL). The organic fraction was washed with water (2×50 mL) and brine (50 mL), dried and the solvent evaporated to give nitrile 276 (1.76 g, 57%) as a colourless oil: 1H NMR δ 4.06 (p, J=5.7 Hz, 1H, CHO), 3.61-3.66 (m, 2H, CH2N), 3.49 (s, 2H, CH2CN), 3.28 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.22-3.27 (m, 2H, CH2N); MS (APCI) m/z 127 (MH+, 100%). The solution was cooled partitioned between water (50 mL) and Et2O (50 mL) The organic fraction was washed with water (2×50 mL) and brine (50 mL) dried the solvent evaporated