2-Benzylamino-7-carbethoxymethoxytetraline hydrochloride → 2-Amino-7-carbethoxymethoxytetraline hydrochloride

A solution of 27 g of 2-benzylamino-7-carbethoxymethoxytetraline hydrochloride, EXAMPLE 1, in 300 ml of 95% ethanol and 25 ml of water, is hydrogenated under ordinary pressure and at temperature of 50° C. by using 3 g of 10% palladium on charcoal as a catalyst. After 3 hours, the mixture is filtered, the residue is taken up twice with 100 ml of absolute ethanol and dried every time. The product so obtained is triturated in 150 ml of acetone, filtered and crystallized from 100 ml of isopropanol to give 19 g of 2-amino-7-carbethoxymethoxytetraline hydrochloride; m.p. 143°-145° C. The product thus obtained may be used for the preparation of the compound of formula (XV) above, in which X is hydrogen and O-R' is a carbethoxymethoxy group (COMPOUND 1), as follows: A solution of 1.8 g of phenyloxirane and 3.7 g of 2-amino-7-carbethoxymethoxytetraline base, obtained by neutralization of the hydrochloride described above, in 40 ml of n-butanol is heated under reflux for 6 hours. The mixture is concentrated to dryness, the residue is purified by flash chromatography, by eluting with a mixture of ethyl acetate/methanol 9/1. The purified oil is left to react overnight with an excess of oxalic acid in 5 ml of isopropanol. Thus, 1.9 g of N-(7-carbethoxymethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethanamine oxalate is obtained; m.p. 159°-162° C., identical with the compound of Example 5 of the European patent 211 721.