20.27 g of 2-aminomethylchroman hydrochloride are introduced into 130 g of methanol, and 20.4 g of a 30% sodium methoxide solution in methanol are subsequently added. 20.43 g of 5-(4-fluorophenyl)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde are added to the white suspension at 35° C., and the mixture is stirred for 1.5 hours before 4.20 g of sodium borohydride are added in portions. After 15 hours, 56.4 ml of water are added, and the pH of the mixture is adjusted to pH 2 using 37% hydrochloric acid. After the suspension has been cooled to 0° C., the crystals are filtered off, washed with methanol and dried under reduced pressure, giving 28.2 g of 2-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridylmethylaminomethyl]chroman hydrochloride (64% yield).
