OMe XI yields of less than lg/, of a material analyzing correctly for the desired 4-benzyloxy-5- hydroxy-2-rnethoxybenzaldehyde (XI). The successful synthesis of methoxycatecholamine I started with 4, 5-methylenedioxy-2-meth-oxybenzaldehvde (XII) l1 which was condensed with nitromethane to yield the nitrostyrene (XIII). Reduction of XIII with hydrogen and palladiumon-charcoal yielded 4, 5-methylenedioxy-2-methoxyphenethylamine ...