A mixture of N-methyl-N-(benzenesulfonyl)-2-chlorobenzohydrazonoyl chloride (1.50 g), 4-chloro-3-octyloxybenzonitrile (1.30 g), anhydrous iron (III) chloride (0.80 g) and o-dichlorobenzene (5 ml) is stirred at an oil bath temperature of 140° C. for 30 minutes. After cooling, the reaction mixture is dissolved in chloroform (100 ml), washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and saline in this order, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrate is purified by silica gel column chromatography using mixed solvent of hexane-ethyl acetate as eluent to give 0.80 g of desired compound.
