A solution of 2-hydroxypyrimidine hydrochloride (1:1) (0.075 mol) in methanol (150 ml) was stirred for 30 minutes and then added to a solution of sodium carbonate (0.075 mol) in methanol (20 ml). The mixture was stirred and refluxed for 15 minutes, and cooled to 55° C. A solution of N,N-bis(phenylmethyl)oxiranmethanamine (0.075 mol) in toluene (160 ml) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. overnight. Water (75 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred at 55° C. for 15 minutes. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH3OH/CH2Cl2 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 11.8 g (45%) of (±)-1-[3-[bis(phenylmethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropyl]-2(1H)pyrimidinone (interm. 2).
