Condensation of aminoguanidine carbonate (I) with formic acid gives 3-aminotriazole (II), which by treatment with concentrated nitric acid in a sodium nitrite solution gives 3-nitrotriazole (III). N-Alkylation of (III) with bromoacetic acid ethyl ester affords 2-(3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)acetic acid ethyl ester (IV). Reaction of (IV) with 2-methoxyethylamine in dioxane yields AK-2123.