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        Decarboxylation of phenylalanines to phenethylamines, by Ritter
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Mix 10g phenylalanine isomer of your choice in 50ml cyclohexanol. Add about .1 
to .3ml cyclohexanone. Amino acid will not dissolve in cyclohexanol until it is 
pretty hot. Bring mix up to about 140'C. Rapid and somewhat violent decarboxy-
lation will start. The soln will bubble like beer (CO2 release) and slowly turn 
a light yellow. An interesting crackling noise is produced as temp gets up to 
reflux point (161') that sounds like popcorn popping. It is actually pretty 
startling when done on a larger scale! When CO2 emission comes to a halt after 
about half an hour cool mix and extract w/ dilute HCl. Basify HCl extract to 
isolate the pretty pure phenethylamine as a light yellow fishy smelling liquid. 
Yield unfortunately is variable - anywhere from 4-8g has been isolated from 
this rxn. I'm sure other high BP solvents will work fine, cyclohexanol happens 
to be what was at hand.

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