[On a novel Fomocaine synthesis/10th communication: on syntheses of new compounds with local anaesthetic activity (author's transl)].

4-[3-(4-phenoxymethyl-phenyl)-propyl]-morpholine (fomocaine, Erbocain) is a very active topical local anaesthetic with low toxicity. A new synthesis starting from 4-phenoxy-methyl-benzonitrile, via a modified Willgerodt-Kindler reaction, is reported. The yield is of the same order as with the known technical process starting from 3-phenylpropanol. The distinct advantage of the new procedure is the avoidance of the C-chloromethylation of 3-phenylpropylchloride during which process the o-chloromethyl derivative is also formed, and this cannot be separated by fractional distillation.