A 2,5-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde and nitroethane condensation produces 1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene. A 1-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropene reduction gives 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (2,5-DMA) free base.
At a glance, regular benzaldehyde could be used here and this whole reaction is the ammonium acetate substituted to cyclohexamine version. correct me if I’m wrong ?