10.2 g (0.04 mol) of 3-(1-piperidylmethyl)-bromobenzene in 20 ml of tetrahydrofuran are added dropwise to 0.97 g (0.04 mol) of magnesium filings in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran at a reaction temperature of 60° C. This operation is followed by 30 minutes' stirring at 60° C., and the solution is then cooled to 10° C. 10.2 g (0.04 mol) of 2-benzylaminomethyl-oxirane in 20 ml of tetrahydrofurane are slowly added dropwise and the solution obtained is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. After the addition of 20 ml of ice water and 4.5 g of ammonium chloride, the aqueous phase is separated and extracted with 25 ml of methylene chloride. The combined organic phases are dehydrated with sodium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation to yield a yellow resin which is chromatographed with methylene chloride/methanol (9:1) against silica gel. After concentration by evaporation, the second fraction yields the title compound as a pale yellow oil.
