The alkylation of isovanillin (I) with cyclopentyl bromide (II) by means of K2CO3 in refluxing ethanol (or hot DMF) gives the 4-cyclopentyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (III), which is oxidized with H2O2 and NaOH (or NaClO2 in AcOH/water) yielding the carboxylic acid (IV). The reaction of (IV) with SOCl2 and DMF in refluxing toluene affords the acyl chloride (V), which is finally condensed with 3,5-dichloropyridine-4-amine (VI) by means of potassium tert-butoxide in toluene or NaH in THF or by heating at the melting point. The intermediate 3,5-dichloropyridine-4-amine (VI) is obtained by chlorination of pyridine-4-amine (VII) with HCl and H2O2 at 70 C.