Sodium Hydroxide → 2-chloro-5-(4-methoxybutyl)-1-phenyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid

Methyl 2-chloro-5-(4-methoxybutyl)-1-phenyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate (450 mg) was dissolved in methanol (5 ml), 1M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (4.2 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 2 hr. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was acidified with 1M hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give the object product (372 mg).