of 2-methoxyethylamine (60.0 g, 0.80 mol) in benzene (200 mL) at 25" C was added (over 0.5 h) ethyl 2-bromopropanoate (69.7 g, 0.39 mol) and the mixture stirred for 12 h. The mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed with 140 mL of 10% NaOH, and distilled to produce ethyl 2-[(2-methoxyethy1) aminolpropanoate (52.5 g, 78%): bp 90" C (18 torr);'H