(1-Butyl-2-iodo-4-phenyl-3H-imidazol-5-yl)-methanol (1.96 g), prepared by the method given in Example 2, step 2, is dissolved in 20 mL CH2Cl2. The solution is cooled to 0° C. and 3 equivalents of SOCl2 are added. The resulting solution is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and then evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in 5 mL of DMF and added to an ice cooled solution of 2 equivalents of 3-ethoxybenzylamine and 2 equivalents K2CO3 in 10 mL DMF. The mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction is quenched with 20 mL water, extracted with EtOAc (3×30 mL), washed with water and brine, and dried over Na2SO4. Concentration and purification via silica gel chromatography provides (1-Butyl-2-iodo-4-phenyl-3H-imidazol-5-ylmethyl)-(3-ethoxy-benzyl)-amine.
