One hundred and ninety-four grams (170 ml., 1.67 moles) of levulinic acid (Note
1) and
500 ml. of 35% aqueous methylamine (sp. gr., 0.89;
3.94 moles of methylamine) (Note
2) are placed in a
2-l. steel reaction vessel of a high-pressure hydrogenation apparatus.
Ten grams of Raney nickel catalyst
1 is added, the vessel is closed, and
hydrogen is admitted to a pressure of 1000–2000 lb. The bomb is then heated with continuous agitation to 140° and maintained at that temperature for 5 hours (Note
3). The contents are removed, and the bomb is washed with two 100-ml. portions of water. After removal of the catalyst by filtration (Note
4), the filtrate is distilled under reduced pressure using a
good column. A low-boiling fore-run of water and
methylamine distils first, followed by the product, a colorless liquid boiling at
84–86°/13 mm.;
102–104°/27 mm.;
n25D 1.4611 (Note
5). The yield is
140–146 g. (
74–77%).