A new convenient synthesis of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamine from acetophenone

1-(4-Nitrophenyl)ethylamine is prepared directly from acetophenone by treatment with ammonium formate, nitration of crude 1-phenylethylformamide and hydrolysis of the amidic bond; on the basis of the moderate yield and the large availability of the starting material, this simple procedure can be favourably compared with those previously reported.