Knoevenagel condensation of aldehyde (I) with malonic acid (II) provided substituted cinnamic acid (III). This was condensed with amino compound (IV) in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide.HCl (EDC) and 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole (HOBt) to give amide (V), which was then converted to the hydrochloride salt by reaction with methanolic HCl.