A solution of 6.6 g of ethyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-nitropropyl(diethoxymethyl)phosphinate in 50 ml of ethanol is added to 52 g of an 8% solution of ammonia in ethanol. To this are added 8 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-methoxyphenyl)propyl(diethoxymethyl)phosphinate as a viscous oil, 31P=+44.5 ppm (CDCl3).
