The condensation of 2-pyridylacetonitrile (I) with isobutyraldehyde (II) in refluxing benzene gives 4-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-2-pentenenitrile (III), which is hydrogenated over Pd/C yielding 4-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)pentanenitrile (IV). The alkylation of (IV) with 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl chloride (A) in DMF affords 2-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl]-4-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)pentanenitrile (V), which is then hydrolyzed in concentrated sulfuric acid.