The Grignard reaction of 3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (I) with vinylmagnesium bromide in THF gives the vinyl carbinol (II), which is oxidized with MnO2 in ethyl acetate yielding the propenone (III). The condensation of (III) with pyridine-2-carbaldehyde (IV) by means of 3-ethyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-thiazolium bromide (ETB) and triethylamine affords the butanedione (V), which is finally cyclized to the target compound with p-toluenesulfonic acid in refluxing toluene.