The interaction of N,N-dimethyl-m-toluidine (I) and phosphorous oxychloride in dimethylformamide results in the formation of 4-dimethylamino-o-tolualdehyde (II). The condensation of this aldehyde and nitroethane (A) in the presence of ammonium acetate gives the corresponding beta-nitrostyrene (III). The preparation of 4-dimethylamino-2,alpha-dimethylphenethylamine (IV) is effected by a procedure involving the reduction of the beta-nitrostyrene (III) with lithium aluminium hydride. Finally, the racemic amine (IV) is resolved into the (S)-isomer by the use of (+)-tartaric acid (V)