(E,E)-N,N-Dityramin-4,4′-dihydroxy-3,5′-dimethoxy-β,3′-bicinnamamide, a lignanamide isolated from Aptenia cordifolia, was synthesised from vanillin and tyramine. The key 8-5′-neolignan intermediate diacid was formed efficiently using oxidative coupling of the ferulic acid derivatives and the ring-opening reaction of a dihydrobenzofuran.