Ethyl 2-piperidinecarboxylate was converted to the corresponding 1-cyanomethyl compound (I) by the strecker synthesis. I was reduced over Raney nickel catalyst at 130° at high pressure to 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9a-octahydro-2H-pyrido [1, 2-a] pyrazin-1 (9aH)-one (II). II was reduced to 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9a-octahydro-2H-pyrido [1, 2-a] pyrazine (III) with lithium aluminum hydride. The compound III was also prepared by another method according to the following process. 2-(Aminomethyl) pyridine was reacted with chloroacetyl chloride to give 2-(chloroacetamidomethyl) pyridine which was cyclized to the corresponding pyridinium salt (VI) by heating in alcoholic solution for 3 hr. The salt (VI) was then reduced over platinum oxide catalyst to 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9a, -octahydro-2H-pyrido [1, 2-a] pyrazin-3 (4H)-one (VII), which was reduced with lithium aluminium hydride to III.