Cerebrocrast is prepared in Hantzsch-type reaction from 2-(propoxy)ethyl acetoacetate (III), 2-(difluoromethoxy)benzaldehyde and ammonia, or from 2-(propoxy)ethyl beta-aminocrotonate (IV) and 2-(difluoromethoxy)benzaldehyde. The necessary raw material, 2-(propoxy)ethyl acetoacetate (III), is prepared from 2-(propoxy)ethanole (II) by acetoacetylation with diketene (I).