The Grignard reaction of 2,2,8-trimethyl-5-formylpyrido[4,3-e]-1,3-dioxane (I) with 4-chlorophenyl magnesium bromide (II) in refluxing ether gives 2,2,8-trimethyl-5-(4-chloro-alpha-hydroxybenzyl)pyrido[4,3-e]-1,3-dioxane (III), which is then hydrolyzed and cyclized by a treatment with aqueous concentrated HCl