OPTICAL RESOLUTION OF (+-)-1-(4-ISOPROPYLPHENYL)ETHYLAMINE

PURPOSE:To carry out the optical resolution of the titled compound easily, in high yield and purity, by reacting (+ or -)-1-(4-isopropylphenyl)ethylamine with an optically active mandelic acid, and separating the product taking advantage of the solubility difference of the produced diastereomer salt. CONSTITUTION:(+ or -)-1-(4-isopropylphenyl)ethylamine (abbreviated as IPA) is made to react with an optically active mandelic acid as an optical resolution agent, the reaction product is dissolved in hot solvent such as methanol, etc., the solution is cooled to obtain a supersaturated solution, and a hardly soluble diastereomer salt is obtained as precipitate. The salt is treated with sodium hydroxide, etc., and the separated amine is extracted with benzene, etc. to obtain the objective compound. The amount of the resolution agent is 0.6-1.2 equivalent, preferably 0.8-1.0 equivalent based on IPA, and the agent can be regenerated by treatment with a mineral acid.