Thionyl Chloride → 2-Chloromethyl-8-(2,6-dimethylbenzylamino)-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

To a solution of 8-(2,6-dimethylbenzylamino)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (1.0 g, 3.4 mmol) in methylene chloride (50 ml) was added dropwise thionyl chloride (0.5 g, 3.4 mmol) solved in methylene chloride (10 ml) at 5° C. The reaction mixture was stirred 2 h. at 5° C. To the mixture was washed with a saturated bicarbonate solution, the organic layer was separated, dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated under reduced pressure to give 1.0 g (93%) of the title compound.