By reaction of alpha,m-(dichloropropiophenone (I) with tert-butylamine (B) in refluxing acetonitrile or by reaction of alpha-bromo-m-chloropropiophenone (VI) with tert-butylamine (B) in acetonitrile at room temperature. The starting product (I) can be obtained in two different ways: 1) The Grignard condensation of m-chlorobenzonitrile (II) with ethyl magnesium bromide (A) in refluxing ether gives m-chloropropiophenone (III), which is then treated with SO2Cl2 in tetrachloroethane. 2) The reaction of propiophenone (IV) with SO2Cl2 in tetrachloroethane gives alpha-chloropropiophenone (V), which is then chlorinated in the ring by means of SO2Cl2 and AlCl3 in tetrachloroethane. The starting product (VI) is obtained by bromination of m-chloropropiophenone (III) with Br2 in methylene chloride