The bicyclic nitrile (III) was prepared by reaction of 1,7-dichloroheptan-4-one (I) with 2-aminoisobutyronitrile (II) in the presence of methanolic ammonia (1). Addition of 2-adamantyllithium (IV) to nitrile (III) in Et2O at -50 C furnished ketone (V). Subsequent addition of 4-fluorophenylmagnesium bromide (VI) to ketone (V) in cold THF provided the desired carbinol, which was isolated as the corresponding hydrochloride salt by lyophilization of its solution in aqueous HCl.