CAS: 4382-96-1

The compound A-(Aminomethyl)-A-phenyl-benzenemethanol (1) is a chiral molecule that has the ability to form a variety of stereogenic centers. It can be prepared in three different ways: by reacting an aldehyde with ammonia and sodium amide, by reacting an imine with an alcohol, or by reacting an aldehyde with methyl bromoacetate. The compound has been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analyses and electron diffraction studies. As shown in the diagram, when 1 is treated with chlorine gas, it yields one of two possible products: 2 (homochiral) or 3 (enantiomeric). When 2 is heated at 200°C for 20 minutes, it converts to 3.