SYNTHESIS OF β-DIMETHYLAMINOETHYL DIPHENYL-PROPYLACETATE HYDROCHLORIDE (SKF 525 A)

The title compound is of value in the studies of drug-metabolizing enzymes.The following steps were devised to obtain the acid moiety, diphenylpropylacetic acid.Propylmagnesium chloride was allowed to react with benzoin to give a glycol, the latter rearranging under acidic conditions to give an aldehyde. Permanganate oxidation of the aldehyde gave the desired acid.