The reduction of beta-dimethylaminopropiophenone (I) with diborane in THF gives N,N-dimethyl-3-phenyl-3-hydroxypropylamine (II), which is converted into N,N-dimethyl-3-phenyl-3-chloropropylamine (III) wtih refluxing SOCl2. The condensation of 4-trifluoromethylphenol (A) with (III) by means of NaOH in refluxing methanol affords N,N-dimethyl-3-phenyl-3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy) propylamine (IV), which is treated with BrCN in benzene to yield N-methyl-N-cyano-3-phenyl-3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy)propylamine (V). Finally, (V) is hydrolyzed with KOH in ethylene glycol at 130 C.