Claisen condensation of the lithium enolate of 4-methoxypropiophenone (I) with diethyl oxalate leads to diketo ester (II). Treatment of (II) with 2,4-dichlorophenyl hydrazine (III), followed by cyclization of the resultant hydrazone (IV) in boiling AcOH furnishes the pyrazolecarboxylate (V). Alkaline hydrolysis of ester (V) yields carboxylic acid (VI), which is further activated as the acid chloride (VII) with SOCl2 in refluxing toluene. Finally, coupling of acid chloride (VII) with 1-aminopiperidine (VIII) produces the target hydrazide derivative.