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Tryptamine prepn - from tryptophane in diphenyl methane

Tryptamine (I) was prepd. by heating tryptophane (II) in Ph₂CH₂ at a temp. higher than the decompn. point of (II).  In an example, 250 mg (II) in 10 g Ph₂CH₂ was heated at 280-90º in an N₂ atmos. and the product treated with C₆H₆ satd. with HCl to give 63% (I) HCl.

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Japanese patent JA0071674 (50-71674)
English abstract:

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Tryptamine prepn - by thermolysis of L-tryptophan copper chelate

L-Tryptophan (I) was treated with (AcO)₂Cu to give L-tryptophan Cu chelate (II) which was heated in an aprotic medium to give tryptamine (III).  In an example, 50 g. (I) in H₂O was treated with excess (AcO)₂Cu aq. soln. to give 52 g. (II), which was heated at 170-175º in P(O)(NMe₂)₃ for 3 min. to give 45% (III).  Me₂SO was also used instead of P(O)(NMe₂)₃.

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It looks like (AcO)₂Cu is cupric acetate and Me₂SO is dimethylsulfoxide.  I've got copies of the patents which are in Japanese.  Where's the Japanese bees (or beetles)?