2-Methyl-6-nitroaniline (I) was acylated with 2,6-difluorobenzoyl chloride (II) to afford the nitroanilide (III). Reduction of the nitro group of (III) with concomitant cyclization using iron powder in refluxing HOAc furnished the benzimidazole (IV). Finally, N-alkylation of (IV) with 2,6-difluoro-alpha-bromotoluene (V) in the presence of NaH provided the title compound.