The racemic compound was synthesized by alkylation of N-methylpropargylamine (I) with 2-bromoheptane (II) in refluxing EtOH, followed by conversion to the corresponding hydrochloride salt.
For the synthesis of the optically pure (R)-enantiomer, racemic 2-heptylamine (III) was resolved by means of immobilized, recombinant Candida antarctica lipase. The required (R)-2-heptylamine (IV) was then converted to the title compound by sequential methylation and propargylation.