Cyclization of 3-(3-chlorophenyl)-N-phenyl-2-propenamide (I) by means of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) at 100 C gives 4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-2-one (II), which is condensed with 4-chlorobenzoic acid (III) by means of PPA at 140 C to yield 6-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-2-one (IV). The dehydrogenation of (IV) by means of Br2 in bromobenzene at 160 C affords 6-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(3-chlorophenyl)quinolin-2(1H)-one (V), which is methylated with iodomethane and NaOH/benzyltrimethylammonium chloride in THF to provide 6-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one (VI). Condensation of compound (VI) with 1-methylimidazole (VII) by means of butyllithium in THF gives the triaryl carbinol (VIII), which is finally treated with ammonia in THF to afford R-115777.