4-Amino-1-phenethylpiperidine (I) is stirred with chloropyrazine (II) and copper powder in phenyl ether at 170-175 C to obtain 1-phenethyl-4-[N-(pyrazinyl)amino]piperidine (III). Subsequent acylation of (III) with 2-furoyl chloride in 1,2-dichloroethane yields mirfentanil as the hydrochloride salt after cooling and filtration. Further purification is achieved by recrystallization from n-propanol.