Sodium borohydride → (+/-)-7-Chloro-1,2-dimethyl-4H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-d]imidazol-4-ol

A mixture of the product from step (ii) (1.43 g), and sodium borohydride (0.42 g) in ethanol (100 ml) and dichloromethane (20 ml) were heated at 50° C. for 4 h. The solvents were evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, washed with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, dried (CaCl2), and evaporated to give the subtitled product as a brown solid.