The condensation of 2-mercapto-5-methoxy-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (I) with 2-(chloromethyl)-4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine (II) by means of KOH in refluxing ethanol gives 2-(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-ylmethylthio)-5-methoxy-3H-imidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (III), which is then oxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in chloroform.