The known benzomorphan (I) was acylated with O-benzyl-L-lactic acid chloride (II) in the presence of N-methylmorpholine to afford amide (III). Reduction of (III) with LiAlH4 produced the corresponding amine, which was finally isolated as the hydrochloride salt.
The optical resolution of 2-(2-methoxybenzyl)-3,3-dimethylpiperidin-4-one (I) by means of (R)(+)-tartaric acid gives the (R)-isomer (II), which is treated with PPh3 a, CH3Br and tBu-OK in THF to yield the exomethylene compound (III). The cyclization of (III) by means of AlCl3 in dichloromethane affords the methoxylated benzomorphan (IV), which is finally demethylated by means of HBr in the usual way to provide the target hydroxy benzomorphan (V) (see scheme no. 28316901a, intermediate no. (I)).