The reaction of 4-bromo-2-thiophienecarboxaldehyde (I) with imidazole yields 4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2 thiophenecarboxaldehyde (II), which by cyanide-catalyzed conjugate addition to 2-butenenitrile (III) in DMF is converted to 4-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-thienyl]-3-methyl-4-oxobutyronitrile (IV). Hydrolysis of (IV) in refluxing 4N HCl gives 4-[4-(1H imidazol-1-yl)-2-thienyl-4 oxobutanoic acid (V), which is finally cyclized with hydrazine in refluxing water to afford motapizone.