Microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-aminonicotinic acids by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with amines

2-(Methylamino)nicotinic acid was readily prepared in high yield by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with 40% aq MeNH2 under microwave irradiation either at 120 °C for 2 h or at 140 °C for 1.5 h. Subsequently, we found that a range of 2-aminonicotinic acids could be obtained under microwave heating. The optimal reaction conditions involved the use of 3 equiv of amine, water as the solvent and heating at 200 °C for 2 h in the presence of diisopropylethylamine (3 equiv).