The reduction of ethyl 2-bromocinnamate (I) with diisobutylaluminum hydride in toluene gives 2-bromocinnamyl alcohol (II), which is treated with PBr3 in CCl4 to afford 2-bromocinnamyl bromide (III). The condensation of (III) with 5-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (IV) by means of NaH in hot benzene affords 6-(2-bromocinnamyl)-5-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (V), which is treated with Cu2(CN)2 in N-methylpyrrolidone at 175 C to yield 6-(2-cyanocinnamyl)-5-hydroxy-2,3 dihydrobenzofuran (VI). Finally, this compound is reduced with diisobutylaluminum hydride in benzene, and treated with NaBH4 in methanol.