synthesis of N-Benzyl ethyl isonipecotate: Ethyl isonipecotate (1, 50 g, 0.31 mol) was dissolved in toluene (150 mL) in a round bottom flask, charged with potassium carbonate (60 g, 0.43 mol) and stirred for 15 min. Benzyl chloride (42 g, 0.31 mol) was charged and the reaction mass was refluxed for 4 h at 100 °C. Upon completion of the reaction as marked by TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate; 2:1), the reaction mass was cooled to room temperature and quenched with water (100 mL), stirred and the organic phase was separated. The aqueous phase was again extracted with toluene (100 mL). Combined organic phase was washed twice with saturated brine solution (50 mL). Remove toluene in vacuo to obtain N-benzyl ethyl isonipecotate (2, 6.97 g, 91 %) as a yellow liquid.
