Ethanol → 6-(2-Hydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-2-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-isoquinolin-1-one

180 mg 2-[2-(4-Methoxy-benzyl)-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolin-6-yl]-2-methyl-propionaldehyde (0.54 mmol, 1 eq) was cooled to zero° C. in 20 ml of a 1:1 mixture of ethanol and THF. 20 mg sodium borohydride (0.54 mmol, 1 eq) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0°° C. for 1 hour. Quenched with water, then 2 drops glacial acetic acid, stirred for 5 minutes, and the mixture concentrated under vacuum to remove the majority of solvents, added saturated bicarb solution, extracted ethyl acetate 2×, dried ethyl acetate over MgSO4, and concentrated to give 180 mg 6-(2-Hydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-2-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-isoquinolin-1-one (M+H=340) which was used directly in the next reaction with no purification.