A process for the preparation of phenylethanolaminotetralins of formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, a halogen, a trifluoromethyl or a lower alkyl group and R.sup.o is hydrogen or a methyl group substituted by a carboxy or a lower carbalkoxy group, which comprises treating a mandelic acid with a 2-amino-7-hydroxytetralin, optionally alkylating with a lower alkyl haloacetate and reducing the amido group of the mandelamide into a methyleneamino group. The mandelamides intermediates are novel.