The bromination of 5-methoxy-1-indanone (I) with Bu4NBr3 in dichloromethane gives the 2-bromo derivative (II), which is condensed with 1-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-5-yl)piperazine (III) by means of K2CO3 in THF to yield 2-[4-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]-5-methoxy-1-indanone (IV). Finally, this compound is reduced by means of NaBH4 in THF to afford the target compound as a mixture of the (cis) and (trans) racemates that are separated by chromatography.