The invention comprises beta-phenyl-beta-indolyl - (3) - ethyl - 2 - imidazolines, in which the phenyl group may be substituted by a methoxy group and the indolyl group by methyl and/or chlorine, and their hydrochlorides. The products are obtained by reaction between a -cyanocinnamic esters in which the phenyl group may be methoxy-substituted, with the appropriate indolyl magnesium halide, followed by hydrolysis, decarboxylation, reaction of the product with hydrochloric acid and an alcohol to give an imino-ether, and reaction with ethylene diamine to give the above final products. In examples the indolyl-phenyl-ethyl imidazoline hydrochloride is obtained by the above series of reactions from any of several alkyl esters of a -cyano-cinnamic acid; 2-methylindolyl products, m-methoxyphenyl products, and chloroindolyl products are obtained by the same series of reactions from the necessary starting materials. Intermediate products isolated, include a - cyano - b - indolyl - b - phenyl propionic acid methyl ester and its 2-methyl-and m-methoxy-derivatives, b -indolyl-b -phenyl-propionitrile and its methyl, chloro and methoxy derivatives. Specification 608,295 is referred to.