Process for preparing arylketoamines

A method of preparing an arylketoamine, which comprises:

• a) providing a compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein, R.sub.1 =an hydroxyl or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyloxy radical,
• R.sub.2 =hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or cycloalkyl radical, and
• Ar substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or a phenyl or naphthyl radical, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkyl, phenyl, and benzyl radicals, wherein the alkyl component is a branched or unbranched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl radical, wherein any of said alkyl, phenyl, and benzyl radicals are optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxyl, sulfonic acid, and sulfinic acid radicals, and wherein said phenyl and benzyl substituents are optionally substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy radical, or both;
• and
• b) reacting said compound with hydrogen in a reaction medium consisting essentially of a liquid carboxylic acid and a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a transition metal catalyst on an inert support, to produce a reaction at a temperature of less than about 60.degree. C. product comprising an arylketoamine as a major compound.