Two related methods have been described: The alkylation of 2-nitrobenzylmethylamine (I) with p-chlorphenyloxyran (II) in boiling ethanol affords N-(2-nitrobenzyl)-2-(methylamino)-1-(4-chlorphenyl)-1-ethanol (III), which is further reduced via NaBH4/NiCl2 in boiling methanol to N-(2-aminobenzyl)-2-(methylamino)-1-(4-chlorphenyl)-1-ethanol (IV). The acylation of (IV) with ethyl chloroformate in the presence of pyridine and in a medium of benzene - DMFA (Method A) results in N-[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)amino]-2-(methylamino)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-ethanol (V). The latter is cyclodehydrated by means of conc.H2SO4 in dichloroethane. According to method B, the amino alcohol (IV) is cyclodehydrated by conc.H2SO4 to 8-amino-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1,2,3-4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (VI), which is acylated with ethyl chloroformate in boiling benzene.