To obtain the subject new compound which is an intermediate for obtaining a racemic body of α-(methylenedioxyphenyl)butylamine useful as an intermediate for a medicine.

This new compound is an optically active body or a racemic body of N-(α-propyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzylidene)-α-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl) butylamine. The optically active body can be obtained by carrying out a condensation reaction of an optically active body of α-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl) butylamine with 3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl propyl ketone, preferably by using a Lewis acid as a catalyst. The objective racemic body can be obtained by reacting a tertiary alkoxide of an alkali metal with the obtained optically active body in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide. The racemic body of the α-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butylamine can be efficiently obtained by hydrolyzing the racemic body.