Manufacture of 3-arylpropyl chloride

A two-step process for the preparation of an arylpropyl chloride of the formula ##STR5## wherein R is hydrogen, loweralkyl or halogen, consisting essentially in hydrogenating a solution of an arylpropiophenone of the formula ##STR6## in an inert solvent in the presence of a catalyst containing metallic ruthenium on a suitable inert support at a temperature between 10.degree. C and 100.degree. C and at a hydrogen pressure between 1 and 100 atm. until an equimolar amount of gaseous hydrogen is used and, after removing said catalyst from said solution, hydrogenating the mixture in the presence of a mineral acid and a catalyst containing metallic palladium on a suitable solid support at a temperature between 10.degree. C and 100.degree. C and at a hydrogen pressure between 1 and 100 atm. until a second equimolar amount of the gaseous hydrogen has been used.