Given the aforementioned hazards associated with the use of anhydrous hydrazine, hydrazine monohydrate which is much safer to handle than anhydrous hydrazine in combination with a desiccant was deemed a suitable substitute. As such, initially anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 was placed in a flame-dried vessel; thereto was added 5nitrofurfural, the vessel was sealed and degassed under a partial flow of a dry inert gas, and was subsequently cooled in an ice-bath, thereto was added anhydrous THF, followed by dropwise addition of hydrazine monohydrate (1.1 equiv.).