To a high pressure reactor flushed with nitrogen were charged methanol (8.0 kg/kg) and Compound 6 (1.0 kg). With careful exclusion of oxygen, sodium bicarbonate (0.6 kg/kg, 2.0 equiv.) and Pd/C (10% loading, 50 % wet, 0.02 kg/kg) were added. The reactor was pressurized with hydrogen (41-46 psi), and the reaction mixture was aged at 20 °C for 6 h then heated to 45 °C and aged till reaction reached completion. The reactor was flushed with nitrogen, and the reaction crude was filtered to remove Pd/C. Methanol (5 kg/kg) was used to aid the transfer. The combined filtrates were distilled under vacuum until total volume became approximately 2.5 L/kg. Water (10 kg/kg) was added, and the crude was distilled under vacuum until total volume became approximately 2.5 L/kg. The crude was heated to 70 °C. Brine (25 wt%, 9.0 kg/kg) was added, and the resulting crude was agitated for 6 h at 70 °C. After cooling down to 0 °C, the crude was further aged for 6 h. Product was isolated by filtration. The cake was washed with brine (pre-cooled to 0 °C, 25 wt%, 2.0 kg/kg), and dried under vacuum at 45 °C. 2-methoxy-3-(1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)aniline was isolated in 99 AP and 88% yield.
