The amidation between o-toluidine [95-53-4] (1) and 2-bromopropionyl bromide [563-76-8] (2) leads to 2-bromo-N-(2-methylphenyl)propanamide [19397-79-6] (3). Displacement of the remaining halide with propylamine [107-10-8] (4) completed the synthesis of prilocaine (5).
^Löfgren, Nils; Tegnér, Claës; Arwidsson, Barbro; Varde, E.; Westin, Gertrud (1960). "Studies on Local Anesthetics. XX. Synthesis of Some alpha-Monoalkylamino-2-methylpropionanilides. A New Useful Local Anesthetic.". Acta Chemica Scandinavica 14: 486–490. doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.14-0486.
^Lofgren Nils Magnus, Tegner Claes Philip, U.S. patent 3,160,662 (1964 to Astra Apotekarnes Kem Fab).
^Demare, Patricia; Regla, Ignacio (2012). "Synthesis of Two Local Anesthetics from Toluene: An Organic Multistep Synthesis in a Project-Oriented Laboratory Course". Journal of Chemical Education. 89 (1): 147–149. doi:10.1021/ed100838a.