A solution of 5.0 g of ethyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-nitropropyl(diethoxymethyl)phosphinate in 50 ml of ethanol is added to 40 g of an 8% solution of ammonia in ethanol. To this are added 7 ml of Raney Nickel and the resulting mixture is hydrogenated at 1 bar until the theoretical amount of hydrogen has been taken up. The mixture is then filtered and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure to give ethyl 3-amino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl(diethoxymethyl)phosphinate as a viscous oil, 31P=+44.4 ppm (CDCl3).
