Ethylenediamine NH3 alternative for Birch

[Chemtrail]

THE MOST CLANDESTINE SUITABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR LIQUID AMMONIA IS ETHYLENEDIAMINE


Ethylenediamine (en) is a solvent that can be used in a variation of the Birch reduction, a chemical reaction that reduces aromatic rings to 1,4-cyclohexadienes. This variant, sometimes referred to as Birch-type reduction, uses lithium metal and ethylenediamine in THF (tetrahydrofuran) as an alternative to the traditional liquid ammonia Birch reduction.

Elaboration:
Birch Reduction:
The traditional Birch reduction employs liquid ammonia and an alkali metal (like lithium or sodium) to reduce aromatic compounds to 1,4-cyclohexadienes.

Ethylenediamine as an Alternative Solvent:
Ethylenediamine, when used in combination with lithium metal and THF, provides an alternative solvent system for Birch-type reductions.


Advantages of the Ethylenediamine Variant:
This variant offers several advantages, including:
Simpler Handling: Ethylenediamine and THF are generally less hazardous and easier to handle than liquid ammonia, reducing the need for specialized equipment and cryogenic temperatures.

Scalable: The reaction has been scaled up to gram scale, making it more practical for research and development.

Simpler Workup: The reaction workup is simplified, often involving quenching with water, evaporation of THF, and partitioning.


*You can also substitute lithium for sodium metal *

? Would potassium metal dissolve blue electrons ?


The attachment pictures are excerpts from Uncle Fester

Thank you

 

[SayMyName Heisenberg]

Cons: Need to dry the reaction all the time using argon/nitrogen.

Pros : But it is safe than using anh ammonia. Which is hard to prepare and smells very strong.

 

[Chemtrail]

From Vespiary:


TooCold
Larvae
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Posts: 32

Ethylenediamine dissolving metal reductions

« on: September 30, 2010, 03:34:03 AM »

So I was reading Reductions in Organic Chemistry by Milos Hudlicky when I came across the fact that Ethylenediamine can be used in dissolving metal reductions in place of NH3. Know I knew that methylamine gas could be used in place of NH3 but methylamine is just as hard to obtain if not harder. I am assuming that the ethylenediamine reduction can reduce ephedrine, if it indeed can be done why isn't this common place? Ethylenediamine is much safer to work with than anhydrous NH3. Also, are the same molar equivalents of ethylenediamine used when reducing ephedrine as when using NH3? Does one need to reflux the ethylenediamine during the reduction or will it reduce the ephedrine at below its boiling point?