The 5-methylsalicylaldehyde (I) is prepared by a tin (IV) chloride-catalyzed formylation. Iodination of the aldehyde with ICl in glacial acetic acid gives good yield of 3-methyl-5-iodobenzylaldehyde (III). The iodinated salicylaldehyde is reductively aminated with N,N,N'-trimethylpropane-1,3-diamine and sodium borohydride to give N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-iodobenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine (HIPDM) (III) in excellent yield.