The reduction of 1,3-dichloro-6-trifluoromethylphenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid (I) with BH3 in THF gives 1,3-dichloro-6-trifluoromethyl-9-hydroxymethylphenanthrene (II), which is oxidized with lead tetracetate in pyridine to yield 1,3-dichloro-6-trifluoromethylphenanthren-9-carboxaldehyde (III). The reaction of (III) with N,N-dibutylbromoacetamide (IV) by means of Zn in THF affords 1,3-dichloro-6-trifluoromethyl-9-[3-(dibutylamino)-3-oxo-1-hydroxypropyl]phenanthrene (V), which is finally reduced with BH3 as before, and treated with HCl.