Process for hydroxyalkylation of cyanoethylanilines

A process is provided for hydroxyalkylation of cyanoethylanilines, which comprises reacting an alkylene oxide of the formula: wherein R1 is selected from H, Cl, Br, OH, a lower alkyl group containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or phenyl with a cyanoethyl aniline in a molar ratio of from about 1:1 to about 2:1 in a reaction medium at a temperature of from about 40 DEG C. to about 130 DEG C. in the presence of an acid catalyst provided in an amount sufficient to catalyze said reaction to thereby provide the corresponding hydroxyalkylated cyanoethyl aniline.