Lithiation of 1-cyano-5-methoxybenzocyclobutane (I), followed by addition of cyclohexanone (II), provided the 1-hydroxycyclohexyl adduct (III). The cyano group of (III) was then reduced to amine (IV) using LiAlH4. Reductive alkylation of amine (IV) with formaldehyde and NaBH3CN furnished the corresponding dimethylamino derivative, which was then converted to the corresponding hydrochloride salt with ethereal HCl.