The title compound, C(17)H(19)N(3)O(2)·2H(2)O, is particularly useful in the preparation of mirtaza-pine, which is the active agent in a new class of anti-depressants. It crystallized as a zwitterion with two mol-ecules of water in the asymmetric unit. The crystal structure is dominated by a system of hydrogen bonds involving the positively charged N atom and both water mol-ecules.