The condensation of m-methoxybenzaldehyde (I) with cyclohexanone (II) by means of KOH in refluxing water gives m-methoxybenzalcyclohexanone (III), which by reaction first with dimethylamine (A) in ether and then reduction with LiAlH4 in the same solvent affords cis-2-(alpha-dimethylamino-m-methoxybenzyl)cyclohexanol (IV). The hydrolysis of (IV) with HCl in isopropanol yields the racemic product, which is finally resolved into the corresponding optical isomers with tartaric acid.