Aminopropanol derivatives

A compound of formula II:

• wherein
• each of m and n, independently, is 1, 2 or 3;
• X is O or a direct bond;
• R1 is
• a phenylalkyl wherein alkyl is a straight- or branched (C6-20)carbon chain;
• or
• a phenylalkyl wherein alkyl is a straight- or branched (C1-30)carbon chain wherein said phenylalkyl is substituted at the phenyl residue by
• a straight- or branched (C6-20)carbon chain optionally substituted by halogen,
• a straight- or branched (C6-20)alkoxy chain optionally substituted by halogen,
• a straight- or branched (C6-20)alkenyloxy,
• phenylalkoxy, halophenylalkoxy, phenylalkoxyalkyl, phenoxyalkoxy or phenoxyalkyl,
• cycloalkylalkyl substituted by C6-20alkyl,
• heteroarylalkyl substituted by C6-20alkyl,
• heterocyclic C6-20alkyl or
• heterocyclic alkyl substituted by C2-20alkyl,
• and wherein
• the alkyl moiety may have
• in the carbon chain, a bond or a heteroatom selected from a double bond, a triple bond, O, S, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, or NR5, wherein R5 is H, alkyl, aralkyl, acyl or alkoxycarbonyl, and
• as a substituent alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aralkyloxy, acyl, alkylamino, alkylthio, acylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, acyloxy, alkylcarbamoyl, nitro, halogen, amino, hydroxyl or carboxy, and
• R2 is
• wherein each of R3 and R4, independently, is H or C1-4alkyl, wherein alkyl is optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 halogen atoms;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and wherein greater than 70% of the compound by weight is in the form of the R or S enantiomer.

A method for determining the amount of the R and/or S isomers of a compound of formula II present in a sample, comprising

• (a) reacting the compound of formula II present in the sample with an aromatic 1,2-dicarbaldehyde to form a compound of formula I
• wherein m, n, x, R1 and R2, are as defined in formula II;
• and
• (b) separating the R and S isomers of the compound of formula I by HPLC.