The formylation of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethylamine (I) with formic acid - acetic anhydride gives N-formyl-3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethylamine (II), which is cyclized in hot POCl3 to afford 6,7,8-trimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline (III). The methylation of (III) with methyl iodide in acetone yields 2-methyl-6,7,8-trimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium iodide (IV), which is condensed with 4,5,6-triethoxy-7-nitrophthalide (V) by means of K2CO3 in methanol yielding 2-methyl-6,7,8-trimethoxy-1-(4,5,6-triethoxy-7-nitro-3-phthalidyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (VI). Finally, this compound is reduced with H2 over Raney-Ni in ethanol.