Ammonium formate → Methyl [3-((S)-2-Aminopropyl)phenyl]acetate

A stirred solution of methyl {3-[(S)-2-((S)-1-phenylethylamino)propyl]-phenyl}acetate hydrochloride salt (1.12 g, 3.60 mmol), ammonium formate (1.16 g, 257 mmol), and palladium hydroxide (0.30 g, 2.1 mmol) in EtOH (40 mL) was heated at 75° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filter cake was washed with EtOAc (2×50 mL). The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in DCM (50 mL) and 20% aqueous ammonia solution (50 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with DCM. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (437 mg, 58% yield) as a colorless oil.