The invention relates to the preparation of teriatry amines of the formula (V) where R is alkyl and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are alkyl groups which are optionally substituted or where R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 form a ring or ring system, via a substrate which is a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Y is the fraction of a solid or soluble support, where Y may include a residue of a functional group having been attached to said support, said functional group having been hydroxy, amino, thio, epoxy or halogen, R.sup.1 is aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl chain or a ring or ring system, which may include a heteroatom, or R.sup.1 is nothing, and R.sup.2 is vinyl; CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 X, where X is halogen; or R.sup.3 C.dbd.CHR.sup.4 or R.sup.3 CH--CH.sub.2 R.sup.4 X, where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different and are alkyl, acyl, carbonyl, cyano or nitro groups and X is halogen. The invention particularly relates to the preparation of alpha-2-receptor active tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives.
