Condensation of ethyl 4-fluorobenzoate (I) with 4-piperidone ethylene ketal (II) afforded the N-arylpiperidine (III). Saponification of the ethyl ester group of (III), followed by acidic hydrolysis of the ethylene ketal function, yielded the benzoic acid derivative (V). Coupling of acid (V) with leucine ethyl ester (VI) using EDC gave amide (VII). Then, reductive amination of piperidone (VII) with the known arylethanolamine (VIII) using NaBH(OAc)3 furnished the aminopiperidine (IX). The ethyl ester group of (IX) was finally hydrolyzed with NaOH to provide the corresponding carboxylic acid.