1.48 g 3-(2-Furan-2-yl-acetylamino)-4-(2-methyl-cyclohexylamino)-benzoic acid methyl ester with 15 ml of 4M hydrochloric acid in dioxane were heated in a microwave reactor to 130° C. for 15 min. Water was added to the reaction mixture and the pH was adjusted to 7 by the addition of saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The phases were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate twice. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulphate, concentrated and 1.31 g (93%) of 2-Furan-2-ylmethyl-1-(2-methyl-cyclohexyl)-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester were obtained.
