The Wittig reaction of 2,6-dinitrobenzaldehyde (I) with (ethoxycarbonylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane (A) produced methyl 2,6-dinitrocinnamate (II). Hydrogenation of the nitro groups and the olefinic double bond of (II) with concomitant cyclization furnished the tetrahydroquinolinone (III). Reductive alkylation of (III) with 6,6-dimethylheptadiynal (IV) and sodium cyanoborohydride produced the secondary amine (V). Finally, the N-methyl group was introduced by a second reductive alkylation with formaldehyde.