3'-Hydroxyacetophenone (I) is acylated with pivaloylchloride (II) to form 3'-pivaloyloxyacetophenone (III). The latter is brominated with bromine to 3'-pivaloyloxy-2-bromoacetophenone (IV), which in turn reacts with N-ethylbenzylamine (V) to form 3'-pivaloyloxy-2-(benzylethylamino)acetophenone (VI). This compound is debenzylated and reduced with H2 in the presence of Pd/C in isopropanol containing hydrochloric acid to yield etilefrine pivalate hydrochloride.