A simple and practical synthesis of the title compounds 1b and 2b is described. Alkylation of N-substituted trifluoroacetamides (5a and b) with appropriate dibromides (6 and 9) in the presence of sodium hydride in N,N-dimethylformamide at 100°C, or powdered potassium hydroxide in refluxing acetone, followed by removal of the trifluoroacetyl group and N-methylation of the resultant amines provides the desired 1b and 2b in 21 and 19 % overall yields, respectively, along with their lower and higher homologs.