Reaction Steps
To a stirred solution of 4-[4-(2-phenoxyethylamino)cyclohexyl]phenol (0.35 g, 1.13 mmol) in a mixture of MeOH (10 mL), water (1 mL) and CH2Cl2 (5 mL) was added p-formaldehyde (0.17 g, 5.62 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours, sodium triacetoxyborohydride (0.33 g, 1.58 mmol) was added and stirring was continued overnight. Solid NaOH was added, until the solution turned clear. Silica gel was added, and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure. Purification by flash chromatography (10:1 CH3Cl:MeOH) gave 4-{4-[methyl(2-phenoxyethyl)amino]cyclohexyl}-phenol (264 mg, 72%) as a white solid: mp 216-220° C.; IR (KBr): 3149, 2936, 1599 cm−1; 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.14 (br s, 1H), 7.34 (dd, J=9, 9 Hz, 2H), 7.00 (d, J=9 Hz, 5H), 6.68 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H), 4.42 (br s, 2H), 3.61-3.33 (m, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.92 (t, J=5 Hz, 2H), 2.49 (tt, J10, 2 Hz, 1H), 2.19 (dd, J=10, 2 Hz), 1.88 (br d, J=10 Hz, 2H), 1.74 (dddd, J=10, 10, 10, 2 Hz, 2H), 1.47 (dddd, J=10, 10, 10, 2 Hz, 2H); CI-MS (methane) (m/z): 326 [M+H]+; HPLC: method A, 5.64 min (95.3%); method B, 9.63 min (99.2%); Anal. Calcd for C24H33NO.HCl: C, 69.69; H, 7.80; N, 3.87. Found: C, 69.44; H, 7.81; N, 3.80.
