This compound can be prepared by two related ways: 1) The condensation of isatin (I) with methyl 3-phenylpropionate (II) by means of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF gives methyl alpha-benzyl-3 hydroxy-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-3-acetate (III), which is reduced with LiAlH4 in THF to afford beta-benzylindole-3-ethanol (IV). The cyclization of (IV) with methyl propionylacetate (V) by means of boron trifluoride ethearate to toluene yields methyl 4-benzyl-1-ethyl 1,3,4,9 tetrahydropyrano[3,4-b]indole-1-acetate (VI), which is finally hydrolyzed with NaOH in refluxing ethanol. 2) The alkylation of methyl indole-3-acetate (VII) with benzyl chloride (VIII) by means of LDA o THF gives methyl alpha-benzylindole-3-acetate (IX), which is reduced with LiAlH4 in THF to the alcohol (IV), already obtained.