In a 1-l. round-bottomed flask is placed a cold solution of 144 g. (1 mole) of β-naphthol in 200 cc. of 95 per cent alcohol (Note 1). To this solution is added first 212 g. (2 moles) of freshly distilled benzaldehyde (which has been previously freed from acid by shaking with 5 per cent sodium carbonate solution) and then about 200 cc. of 95 per cent alcohol which has been saturated with ammonia at room temperature. The solution becomes red and warms up spontaneously. The flask is stoppered and allowed to stand for two hours. Then the stopper is removed, and the excess ammonia is allowed to escape. After about twelve hours, the condensation product, which has separated as white needles, is filtered with suction and washed with 50 cc. of alcohol. The mother liquors on standing for three days deposit an additional quantity of the condensation product (Note 2). The yield is 284–306 g. (84–91 per cent of the theoretical amount) of a product which melts at 148–150°.

The condensation product thus obtained is introduced into a 5-l. round-bottomed flask arranged for steam distillation, and treated with three to four times its volume of 20 per cent hydrochloric acid. The mixture is steam distilled to remove all benzaldehyde formed by the hydrolysis (about two hours) (Note 3). Meanwhile, an abundant flocculent precipitate of light pink or white needles separates. The mixture in the flask is cooled thoroughly and filtered with suction. The yield is 240–260 g. (84–91 per cent of the theoretical amount) of a product which melts at 190–220° with decomposition (Note 4).

The hydrochloride thus obtained varies from pure white to a light red in color, depending on the purity of the original reagents and on the length of time required for the hydrolysis. However, the color does not interfere with isolation of a pure white free base when the salt is treated with alkali. The salt is somewhat more stable than the free base, and, if the reagent is to be stored for some time, it should be kept in this form.

In order to obtain the amine, 200 g. of finely divided hydrochloride is placed in a 1500-cc. beaker and stirred into a smooth paste with 300 cc. of water. To this is added 50 g. of crushed ice, and the mixture is cooled in an ice bath (Note 5). Then 750–800 cc. of 5 per cent aqueous potassium hydroxide is added slowly and with stirring until a nearly clear solution results. The cold solution is transferred to a separatory funnel and extracted eight to ten times with 300-cc. portions of ether. The combined ether extract is dried overnight with 50 g. of anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to about 300 cc. When the solution is cooled in an ice bath, the amine crystallizes and is filtered with suction. The first crop of crystals weighs 112–115 g. Further concentration of the mother liquors to about 100 cc. and cooling yield 14–18 g. more of the product (Note 6). The total yield is 127–131 g. (73–75 per cent of the theoretical amount) of a product which melts at 124–125° (Note 7). If desired, it may be purified by dissolving in an excess of dry ether, evaporating the excess of solvent, and allowing the amine to crystallize. Thus, 24.5 g. of the amine, when dissolved in 800 cc. of dry ether and the solution filtered and evaporated in a current of air to 150 cc., yields 18–19 g. of product, melting at 124–125°