The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of 9-dichloromethylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methano-naphthalen-5-ylamine which process comprises a) reacting cyclopentadiene in the presence of a radical initiator and CXCl3, wherein X is chloro or bromo, to a compound of formula II aa) reacting cyclopentadiene with CXCl3, wherein X is chloro, in the presence of a metal catalyst to a compound of formula II wherein X is chloro, b) reacting the compound of formula II with a base in the presence of an appropriate solvent to the compound of formula III c) and converting the compound of formula III in the presence of 1,2-dehydro-6-nitrobenzene to the compound of formula IV and d) hydrogenating the compound of formula IV in the presence of a metal catalyst.