The Grignard reagent (II), prepared form 4-methylbenzyl chloride (I), was condensed to N-benzyl-4-piperidone (III) in cold THF to provide the 4-hydroxy-4-benzylpiperidine (IV). Catalytic hydrogenolysis of the N-benzyl group of (IV) over Pd/C gave piperidine (V), which was then alkylated with 2-(4-benzyloxyphenoxy)ethyl bromide (VI) in refluxing acetonitrile to afford (VII). The O-benzyl group of (VII) was finally cleaved by hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd(OH)2 to furnish the target compound.