Alkylation of (7-methoxy-1-naphthyl)acetonitrile (I) with iodomethane in the presence of NaH gave the corresponding naphthylpropionitrile (II), which was reduced to amine (III) by catalytic hydrogenation over Raney-Ni. Finally, condensation of (III) with butyryl chloride in the presence of triethylamine provided the title butyramide.