Methyl 2-acetylphenoxyacetate (I) is cyclized to 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-benzoxepine-3,5 dione (II) in the presence of sodium hydride in dimethylformamide. Condensation with methylamine (catalytic amounts of formic acid) in boiling methylene chloride and subsequent reduction with sodium cyano-borohydride yields 3-methylamino-3,4-dihydro-1-benzoxepin-5(2H)-one (IV), which is reduced by sodium borohydride or lithium tri(sec-butyl)borohydride. The resulting cis/trans-mixture is separated by column chromatography.