AbstractThe preparation of some β‐alkylaminobutyric‐acid‐amides from the corresponding crotonic acid amides and dimethyl or diethylamine under pressure at 100–150° is described. Two diethylamino acetic acid amides were prepared by reacting N‐benzyl‐chloracetamide or N‐(pethoxybenzyl)‐chloracetamide with diethylamine. All these β‐dialkyl‐aminobutyric and dialkylaminoacetic acid amides show local anaesthetic activity. Two of them (β‐diethylaminobutyric acid anilide and β‐diethylamino‐butyric acid‐p‐phenetidide) show promise as long acting anaesthetics of low toxicity for nerve block anaesthesia, an