NYTT FOERFARANDE FOER FRAMSTAELLNING AV ALFA-TERT-BYTYLAMINOMETYL-4-HYDROXY-M-XYLEN-ALFA1 ALFA3-DIOL

The present invention relates to a method for producing therapeutically valuable .alpha.2-tert.-butylaminomethyl-4-hydroxy-m-xylene-.alpha.2 ,.alpha.3-diole, which has the formula and its acid addition salts, characterized in that an imine derivative having the formula where R stands for a lower straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Ar stands for an aryl group, is converted by simultaneous hydrogenation and reduction into a compound having the formula and from which the arylmethyl protective group is removed by catalytic hydration. The method, according to the invention, is appropriate for industrial production work wherein .alpha.2-tert.-buty-laminomethyl-4-hydroxy-m-xylene-.alpha.1,.alpha.3-diole can be easily produced with a good yield in a continuous process, without isolating the intermediate products.