100 parts of the hydrochloride of meta-hydroxy-ω-aminoacetophenone of melting point 220°C to 222°C (obtainable by brominating metaacetoxyacetophenone, causing the bromoketone to react with sodium iodide, adding hexamethylenetetramine to the iodide in an indifferent solvent and scission of the addition product in acid solution) are shaken in aqueous solution with hydrogen in presence of 2 parts of palladium catalyst until 2 atomic proportions of hydrogen have been absorbed. The catalyst is now filtered and the filtrate evaporated in a vacuum; and the crystalline and completely dry residue is dissolved in absolute alcohol and a precipitate is produced by adding dry ether. The hydrochloride of metahydroxyphenylethanolamine thus obtained forms white crystals of melting point 159°C to 160°C.
