Upon reaction with butyl nitrite, it undergoes nitrosation into the isonitrosoketone, which by reduction using hydrogen over Raney nickel turns into 1-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)-2-aminopropan-1-ol, the protecting benzyl group is removed by reduction using hydrogen over palladium catalyst, to give racemic metaraminol.
Metaraminol or ephedrine, where hypotension (low blood pressure) may occur secondary to the sedating drugs