2.6 g (0.009 mol) of 4-Methyl-5-bromoacetyl-oxazole and 1.16 g (0.009 mol) of N,N-diisopropyl-ethylamine are dissolved in 50 ml of methylene chloride. This solution is added dropwise, within 20 minutes to 3.47 g (0.018 mol) of 2-(4-carbomethoxyphenyl)-1-methylethylamine in 100 ml of methylene chloride, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and at 35° C. for 1 hour. The reaction solution is cooled in an ice bath, and 150 ml of methanol are added. Then, for the reduction of the resulting amino-ketone, 1 g of sodium borohydride is added in portions over 30 minutes, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 20 hours and then evaporated. Ice-water is then added to the residue, and the mixture is acidified with hydrochloric acid, made alkaline with concentrated aqueous ammonia and extracted with chloroform. The extract is dried over sodium sulphate, concentrated and purified on a silica gel column using ethyl acetate/methanol=9:1 as eluant. The hydrochloride is then precipitated with ethereal hydrochloric acid.
