Compound can be prepared in two different ways: 1) By heating at 100 C a mixture of m-nitrobenzaldehyde (I), methyl beta-aminocrotonate (II) and N-benzyl-N-methylaminoethyl acetoacetate (III). 2) By cyclization of a mixture of m-nitrobenzaldehyde (I), methyl acetoacetate (IV) and N-benzyl-N-methylaminoethyl beta + aminocrotonate (V) in refluxing isopropanol.