Tin (II) chloride (451 mg) was added to a solution of N-[(3-nitrophenyl)-(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-N-[1-(4-acetoxyphenyl)ethyl]amine (200 mg) [prepared as described in step (a) above] in ethanol (10 ml). The mixture was heated under reflux for 1 hour. At the end of this time, ethyl acetate and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate were added to the reaction mixture. The insoluble material was removed by filtration. The filtrate was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer and extract were combined, washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride and dried over magnesium sulfate. It was then concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure, to afford the title compound (170 mg) as a yellow oil.
