8-OH-DPAT is conveniently prepared from 8-methoxy-2-tetralone (I) (1-3). Reductive amination of (I) gives 8-methoxy-2-(n-propylamino)tetralin (II). Subsequent N-acylation using propionyl chloride followed by LiAlH4 reduction yields 8-methoxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (III). The title compound is obtained as the hydrobromide after O-demethylation of (III) in aqueous HBr.