Nitration of 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde (I) with 70% HNO3 in concentrated H2SO4 at ice-bath temperature provided the 3-nitro derivative (II). This was reduced with NaBH4 in MeOH at 10 C to the alcohol (III), which was treated with mesyl chloride and triethylamine in dichloromethane to give mesylate (IV). Alkylation of 5-hydroxyisoquinoline (V) with mesylate (IV) in the presence of NaH in DMF yielded ether (VI). Subsequent reduction of the nitro group of (VI) with hydrazine and FeCl3 provided amine (VII), which was finally acylated with Ac2O in dichloroethane at 70 C to furnish the target acetamide.