Method for the preparation of arylalkanolamineacylates

A method of preparing the amine acylate salt of an arylalkanolamine, which comprises the steps of:

• a) providing a compound of the formula ##STR10## wherein, R.sub.1 =an hydroxyl alkyl, or alkyloxy radical
• R.sub.2 =hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or cycloalkyl radical, and
• Ar=an unsubstituted phenyl radical, or a phenyl radical substituted at the ortho position, the para position, or both the ortho and para positions, or an unsubstituted naphthyl radical, or a naphthyl radical substituted at one or more of the 1, 3, 6, and 7 positions, 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 amino, 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 comprising an acyl donor selected from carboxylic acids having a melting point below 100.degree. C. and a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a transition metal catalyst on an inert support, to form a carboxylic acid salt of an arylalkanolamine.