2-amino-7-hydroxytetraline ethers of formula ##STR1## wherein R' represents methyl substituted by a carboxy group or lower carbalkoxy group or a salt thereof; a process for their preparation starting from the 2-amino-7-hydroxytetraline, N-protection, O-alkylation and N-deprotection; N-protected intermediates; and use of the compounds I for the preparation of the corresponding phenylethanolaminotetralines.