30 parts of 1-(3'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(N-benzylaminomethyl)-ethan-1-one are
mixed with 100 parts of pyridine and 30 parts of pivalic anhydride and
dissolved while warming. After heating for 1 hour under reflux, the acylation
is complete. After concentrating the reaction solution, the product is
precipitated from acetone/ether. Yield: 96.4% of 1-(3'-pivaloyloxyphenyl)-2-
(N-benzylaminomethyl)-ethan-1-one. 3 parts of palladium/charcoal (10% strength) are prehydrogenated in water,
thereafter 10 parts of 1-(3'-pivaloyloxyphenyl)-2-(N-benzylaminoethyl)-ethan-
1-one, dissolved in a 10-fold amount of water, are added dropwise at room
temperature and hydrogenation is carried out until 1 mol of hydrogen has
been taken up. After filtering off the catalyst, a further 3 parts of
palladium/charcoal are added and hydrogenation is carried out until a further
mol of hydrogen has been taken up. The catalyst is separated off and after
removal of the solvent the hydrogenation product is reprecipitated from
acetone/petroleum ether and from methanol/ether until it is pure according to
thin layer chromatography. Yield: 38.8% of 1-(3'-pivaloyloxyphenyl)-2-
ethylaminoethanol-1 hydroxide, melting point 208°C to 209°C.
