Is my Ammonium Acetate Dry?

[plancklong]

I have everything I need to synthesize 2,3,4-trimethoxyphenethylamine. Since I have no cyclohexylamine (CHA), I am taking Shulgins alternate route using more nitromethane and a small amount of ammonium acetate, bypassing the CHA.
I was able to get 50 g of 2,3,4-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, but I don't want to waste any if some moisture in the ammonium acetate will kill the reaction.

Does anyone know of a cheap, simple way to test for water in ammonium acetate? How much would make it a no-go?

Thanks!

 

[w2x3f5]

dry and wet ammonium acetate are very different in appearance, usually dried in a desiccator with anhydrous calcium chloride. Use another amine; if you don't have cyclohexylamine, you can use methylamine acetate or ethylenediamine diacetate. Glacial acetic acid will additionally help in synthesis by reducing the concentration of water in the reaction and increasing the solubility of the catalyst. It is very useful to react with microwave irradiation, this speeds up the reaction and provides a good yield.