An azetidinium ion approach to 3-aryloxy-3-aryl-1-propanamines

Treatment of 3-(dimethylamino)-1-phenyl-propan-1-ol with mesyl chloride and then different phenols generates a range of N,N-dimethyl-3-aryloxy-3-aryl-1-propanamines via regiospecific opening of a proposed azetidinium ion intermediate. During the rearrangement process, there was some leakage of stereochemical integrity.