Vanillin was first treated with benzyl bromide for the benzylation, the aldehyde condensed with nitromethane, then reduced with sodium borohydride in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate to give 3-methoxy-4-benzyloxyphenethylamine which was lastly treated with hydrochloric ethyl acetate to give the final compound. The effects of reagent mole ratio, reaction temperature and time on the yield of the condensation were studied, and also the effects of reducing agent proportion and reaction time on the yield of the reduction were studied. The total yield could reach up to 79.4% in four steps, and the structure of the target was confirmed by means of ESI-MS and 1H-NMR.