As part of my ongoing investigation of Schiff type condensation compounds that act as ligands I want to prepare a few from 2-hydroxybenzylamine and
various aldehydes. The salicylaldehyde Schiff compound is a well known fluorescent reagent for aluminium and gallium. The compounds are easily
prepared once you have the aldehyde and the hydroxybenzylamine.
The compound was originally prepared by Goldschmidt (1890; Berichte de Chm.; v23, p2741-2746.) by treating 2-methoxybenzylamine with conc HCl at 150
C. The methoxy compound being prepared from 2-methoxybenzaldehyde oxime (o-Anisaldehyde oxime) by reduction with Na amalgam.
The problem is how to prepare a small amount (say 5-10g) of the 2-hydroxybenzylamine? Looking at the compounds I have with a 2-hydroxyphenyl motif
2-hydroxyacetophenone, salicylaldehyde and salicylaldehyde azine look like promising precursors.
I wondered if it might be possible to reduce the azine, splitting the N-N linkage and generating the desired benzylamine? Nice and simple but is it
possible? Anyone any ideas? I have found references to the reduction of benzaldehyde azine but this gives with Zn and acid dibenzylamine with the loss
of ammonia or with Na amalgam to the symmetrical dibenzylhydrazine is formed.
Looking at Goldschmidt's method I wondered if it would be possible to reduce salicylaldehyde oxime directly. Are oximes hard to reduce to amines?
I also envisage a more involved route from 2-hydroxyacetophenone via a Willgerodt reaction to 2-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid; esterify; convert to amide
and finally a Hoffmann degradation to the desired amine. A problem I foresee here is the possibility of intramolecular esterification and
cyclotisation of the intermediate acid. Will there be sufficient free acid in the equilibrium mixture to drive the reaction to completion?
Another route I thought of was via 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol via the bromide and then a Delepine type reaction to the amine but then how do you get to
the alcohol?
Has anyone any other ideas or comment on any of the above routes?clearly_not_atara - 21-4-2021 at 06:35
"Benzisoxazole may be prepared from inexpensive salicylaldehyde, via a base catalyzed room temperature reaction with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic
acid."
Alternatives include O-acetylhydroxylamine. See Kemp & Woodward 1965, attached.
Attachment: kemp1965.pdf (1.4MB) This file has been downloaded 358 times
Boffis - 21-4-2021 at 13:31
@ clearly_not_atara; Thank you that is a really interesting route. I have just got to figure out a way to those O-substituted hydroxylamines. Since
this method is very similar to Goldschmidt's do you think I might be able to reduce salicylaldehyde oxime, which is easily prepared, directly?njl - 21-4-2021 at 13:41
Unrelated to @clearly_not_atara's idea there are processes based on phenol/formaldehyde resin chemistry to generate phenolic benzyl alcohols. Of the
top of my head I can't remember any specific references but I believe a very simple step in one of the pages on Rhodium uses this reaction to make a
benzyl alcohol from a phenol, formaldehyde, and base. From there substitution of the benzylic oxygen with chloride from HCl gives benzyl chloride.
BzCl alkylates amine (ammonia or equivalent).Boffis - 22-4-2021 at 01:13
@njl, that's an interesting idea too. I had thought about something similar but felt that the p- position would be preferred or at a significant side
reaction giving a mixture that I would have to separate. Also I seem to recall that the reaction is difficult to control to just the monosubstituted
derivative. It might work better with 4-substituted phenols as this blocks the p- position and in some case may reduce the reactivity of the phenol.
Edit: well done njl, I followed up your lead and it is indeed possible to prepare 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol by the phenol + formaldehyde route. BUt
while reading up about these compounds they mention that they resinify in mineral acids so converting it into the 2-hydroxybenzyl halide is going to
be tricky. Any ideas?
It looks like I am back to the phenylacetic acid amide degradation or the reduction of the isoxazole.
[Edited on 22-4-2021 by Boffis]clearly_not_atara - 22-4-2021 at 05:32
I must have been mistaken, because O-acetylhydroxylamine is unstable and rearranged to the N:
So instead the method Kemp and Woodward refer to via O-acetylsalicylaldoxime must involve acylating the oxime oxygen of salicylaldoxime! I'm surprised
you could even do that. However, this paper appears to say that acetic anhydride attacks the salicylaldehyde oxime oxygen selectively: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ac60170a045
And indeed, the attached study from 1914 firmly establishes that the oxime oxygen is preferentially acetylated by methylating the result and
hydrolysing to obtain hydroxylamine instead of O-methylhydroxylamine.
So this may provide a way from salicylaldoxime if Ac2O is available.
Attachment: brady1914.pdf (632kB) This file has been downloaded 400 times
[Edited on 22-4-2021 by clearly_not_atara]njl - 22-4-2021 at 06:56
Boffis, that is a good point however no polymerization will be possible since after you form the alcohol, workup of the reaction mixture will remove
excess formaldehyde that is needed for further crosslinking. The polymerization is both acid and base catalyzed but I believe the process is slowed in
water. I am fairly certain this should be possible, likely at lower temperatures. I would try a solution of NaCl/HCl with the benzyl alcohol at
perhaps 0-10 C. The benzyl chloride is immiscible with water. kmno4 - 23-4-2021 at 05:44
It depends on oxime.
Universal methods, working always (almost), possible to perform by amateurs:
1) Reduction by Al(Hg) in aqueous THF or dioxane
2) Reduction by NaBH4 with Ni ("NiB") in methanol
3) Reduction by Na in ethanol
4) Reduction by H2 with Pd/C (or alumina) in alcohol
One can find countless "simple and efficient" methods, but most of them are crap, or working only for very limited classes of oximes.
The borohydride method is the best one I know - very fast, giving (very) high yields of amine and very simple workup.
BTW.
Chloromethylation of simple phenol gives polysubstituted produsts, even when performed at high dillutions.
The last instance preparation for benzyl alcohols from aldehydes is Cannizzaro rection, of course. Unfortunately, it gives 50% loss of an aldehyde at
start clearly_not_atara - 23-4-2021 at 06:11
With a trace of pyridine. - Salicylaldehyde 3 g., formamide 1 g. and pyridine 0.285 g. (1 : 1 : 0.15 mol.)
were heated on a water-bath for eight hours, left overnight and the salicylidene-formamide extracted as usual. Yield 3.1 g. or 87%
of theory. The heating had to be longer than usual, otherwise a viscous mass was formed and the yield was diminished.
[...]
Without any reagent. - Several experiments were made with changes in the period of heating. With 18 hours' heating the yield became 2.8 g.
or about 81% of theory.
Other amides and aldehydes need catalysts, but salicylaldehyde reacts with formamide without prompting. The product is N-formylsalicylaldimine, which
could hopefully be reduced by such reagents as NaBH4. H2/Pd@C may give o-cresol.kmno4 - 23-4-2021 at 08:47
Formamide..... It sounds very familiar, ha.
Maybe good old Leuckart would make the day ?
Large excess of ammonium formate would prevent secondary amine formation, at least to some extent. Worth trying S.C. Wack - 23-4-2021 at 14:08
And further on the conditions...it appears that some are more easily hydrolyzed than others.
Na/Hg is particularly well suited for those with Hg and without fear and the (not particularly expensive) aldehyde, since it also produces (using
p-toluidine) the desired aldehyde from the acid.
[Edited on 23-4-2021 by S.C. Wack]clearly_not_atara - 23-4-2021 at 15:56
Instead of the classic Leuckart it might be a better bet to treat the pre-formed N-formylsalicylaldimine with formic acid, which should reduce if not
eliminated condensations.
The product may be 4H-benz[e]1,3-oxazine instead of the expected N-formylsalicylamine due to cyclocondensation. But this should hydrolyse easily.Corrosive Joeseph - 23-4-2021 at 18:53
Zn-Ni-NH3 should reduce that oxime nicely...
/CJBoffis - 23-4-2021 at 23:16
Many thanks for the suggestions guys; they are very helpful. Looking at the various ideas I think that the route via salicylaldehyde oxime looks like
the best route. I'll have a go at some of these reductions when I am next at home.zed - 23-4-2021 at 23:46
Hi zed, the reading I have done suggests that the alcohol group condenses with vacant o and p positions on other molecules of hydroxybenzyl alcohol
with the elimination of water thus causing polymerisation under acidic conditions.zed - 24-4-2021 at 00:53
Well, it seems like there might be difficulties. I expect aromatics to behave like aromatics. Pretty stable.
But, when the rings are substituted in odd ways... All bets are off. Strange things happen.
Route via Azine... Yeah, that's doable. Least wise, it is a known route to amines. As I recall, it is a LiAlH4 reduction.
Might be more common via the Benzyl Alcohol. Alcohol + P-Toluene Sulfonyl Chloride ---> Ester
Proceeding via the Methyl Ether, then cleaving... seems OK.
Though the Ethyl Ether is usually easier to cleave.
The difficulty in the reduction of Oximes, is case by case.
[Edited on 24-4-2021 by zed]
[Edited on 24-4-2021 by zed]clearly_not_atara - 24-4-2021 at 10:46
The trouble with salicyl alcohols is the tendency to eliminate to the o-quinone methide. This is a reactive polyene which rapidly forms tars.
Some nucleophiles can trap the quinone methide, but ammonia is difficult due to its volatility and the reversibility of its addition; irradiation of
salicyl alcohol in liquid ammonia at the right frequency may give some o-hydroxybenzylamine. AvBaeyer - 24-4-2021 at 20:07
The attached provides relevant information regarding 2-hydroxybenzylamine. I have been following the discussion since it started. I am surprised that
nobody has found this yet
Yes, it deserves a lollipop.
However, the preparation looks to me a bit too good.
There is a paper (DOI: 10.1021/ja01651a002), where this procedure was repeated (with modifications), with slightly worse affect. The same paper gives
procedure for bis-o-hydroxybenzylamine formation via H2 reduction over Pt/ethanol of the same oxime. Interesting, another paper (DOI:
10.1246/bcsj.43.226) gives procedure for the oxime reduction to desired salicylamine under similar conditions (Pd/C in methanol/water). One important
difference - in the latter preparation HCl(aq) is added to the reaction mixture. This prevents secondary amine formation by trapping primary amine, as
soon as it is formed, into ammonium salt. Simple but effective trick. The paper gives also reference to Al(Hg) reduction, unfortunalely in Japanese.
The reference is available online, but the only thing I understood from it is 0,3-0,4 g of amine from 1 g of oxime (?).
Also interesting, that procedure for reduction of the oxime by Zn/acetic acid is also available (DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics2010018) The yield is not
very high, but better than 60%. This is very old method of reduction of oximes, but not always working. See also this paper: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8867&...
I want a lollipop too.
[Edited on 25-4-2021 by kmno4]zed - 25-4-2021 at 14:10
I like the yield of that Na-Amalgam reduction. Straight forward method.
Form the Oxime. Reduce it!
Still, I might look for another reduction method.
Our heros of yesteryear, seem to have utilized about a kilo of Mercury to get the job done. But, I'm gonna recheck that. Could that be true?Boffis - 26-4-2021 at 09:03
Hi guys, many thanks for the ideas and references and I will try an find you some digital lollipops!
The references also contain links to the azine reduction that I had original proposed but after reading them I think the direct oxime reduction route
is the simpler route with better yields; this is in spite of the fact that I have a lots of salicylaldehyde azine, a by-product of a recent
experiment. I have plenty more salicylaldehyde too. I may try several reduction routes. Unfortunately I am away from home at present and for some time
so these experiments will have to wait until I return. kmno4 - 8-10-2021 at 05:13
Finally I have some time for other experiments.
I decided to try hydrogenation of the oxime over Pd/alumina, but with slightly different starting conditions than given in the paper mentioned
earlier.
Experiment in progress S.C. Wack - 8-10-2021 at 15:49
One important difference - in the latter preparation HCl(aq) is added to the reaction mixture. This prevents secondary amine formation by trapping
primary amine, as soon as it is formed, into ammonium salt. Simple but effective trick.
With one, very important difference - from practical point of view: Hartung uses absolute ethanol saturated with HCl, Kanatomi & Murase use
methanol with addition of conc. hydrochloric acid.
Unfortunately I had to interrupt my hydrogenation experiments
It turns out, that the salicylaldehyde (commercial) I have, contains very lagre amount of phenolic matters (phenol or cresol or so) .....
I do not know if I can purify it, but I am going to try this, of course.
Damned internet sellers
[Edited on 9-10-2021 by kmno4]kmno4 - 11-10-2021 at 08:21
... took another sample of salicylaldehyde.
It was much purer, giving snow-white NaHSO3 adduct and nicely looking oxime (just the aldehyde, hydroxylamine HCl and sodium acetate in water). No
free phenolic, non-aldehyde matters were detected. The oxime has funny taste: firstly it is sweet, then during 1-2 seconds it turns to sharp
pepper/paprika taste, without any aftertaste later, but nevermid
The hydrogenation is finished now, but everything is in a flask yet.
However, few droplets of methanolic solution left on watch-glass turn wholly into crystals, after evaporation (no heating).
It means that the product is highly homogeous and this is not the oxime It
looks good, very good....
But the truth will be shown after working-up and m.p. determination.
[Edited on 11-10-2021 by kmno4]Boffis - 17-10-2021 at 01:08
@kmno4; I've been following your activities with considerable interest as I have not yet got round to trying similar experiments myself.
How did your product turn out? Do you think it is the required hydroxybenzylamine?kmno4 - 17-10-2021 at 02:42
Hi Boffis.
(EDITED)
.... when no more H2 was consumed, everything was disconnected from my H2 generator and flask with methanolic solution (and Pd catalyst) was set
aside. Pd/alumina was then filtered off (paper filter), the solution (yellow-orange) was set for distillation.
Most of MeOH was distilled off, leaving reddish water solution.
This, when cooled, deposites some crystals (needles) but ~20 g of water was added and set for another distillation.
During this process, water was collected together with some organic impurities. Some salicylaldehyde was detected and some very stinky phenolic matter
also distilled off with water. Distillation was stopped, when about ~20 cm3 of water/organic mixture was collected and no more oily (and stinky)
droplets were formed.
It is poor man"replacement" for vacuum distillation (originally in the article). At least almost all non-basic by-products were removed in this way.
About 1-2 cm3 of organic fraction separates, slowly becoming brown in the air on prolongated storing. Some attempt was made to recover
salicylaldehyde from this mixture (as its oxime), but without any effects - no oxime separates. Most possibly, its content is low, however easily
detectable by the odor.
Clear, orange-reddish redisue, being mostly water solution of hydrochlorides, was transfered to smaller beaker and water was added to obtain ~50 cm3
of total volume. During H2O addition, the mixture becomes a little cloudy. Instead of NH3(aq), solid NaOH wad used to neutralize the solution (also
Na2CO3 can be used instead of NaOH). When pH becomes only slightly acidic (~4), the solution becomes more turbid, some light brownish sticky substance
saparates. At this point NaHCO3 was used for better pH control. At pH 5,5-6, more sticky matter colllests and the water solution becomes much less
colored. At this point it was filtered (paper), but the filtrate still depostis this sticky something when pH is decreased. So this step should
omitted and careful neutralization shoud be continued. At still lower pH, the solution becomes practically colorless, white sediment with brownish
'chunks' separates, some ammonia-like odour is present.
Some dil. H2SO4 was added, to set pH around 6-7, to remove as much as possible the sticky crap, without precipitation of the white desired amine.
Unfortunalety, is not possible, at least under given conditions to make complete separation.
The amout of the brown crap is rather small, possibly less than 0,5 g, but it considerably hinders purification.
Anyway, the white sediment was precipitated with NaHCO3 and filtered. Unfortunately, it is very "hydrophilic" and after filtration (vacuum) still
contains very lagre amout of absorebed water. From starting 10 g of aldehyde, 16 g of wet white mud was obtained. It seems it contains more than 50 %
water .
Additional purification is needed, but I have no time now for it
On the picture - mentioned 16 g of wet amine (some colored chunks are also visible). BTW - it was filered today, after many days standing, it seems it
is rather air/oxygen resistant.
The powder has strong bitter taste, without any phenolic or aldehyde aftertaste. Its m.p. was not determined, at this stage it is a waste of time.
.