Alkylation of diphenylacetonitrile (I) with dibromoethane provided bromide (II). This was condensed with 2-methylimidazole (III) in the presence of Et3N in DMF to afford the substituted imidazole (IV). Finally, hydrolysis of the cyano group of (IV) with 70% sulfuric acid produced the target amide.
Treatment of acetonitrile derivative (I) with dibromoethane (II) in toluene in the presence of NaNH2 affords bromo compound (III), which is then condensed with imidazole derivative (IV) by means of Et3N in DMF to provide compound (V). Hydrolysis of the cyano group of (V) with aqueous H2SO4 yields amide derivative (VI), which is finally subjected to alkyl quaternization by reaction with bromobenzyl bromide (VI) in acetone to furnish the desired product.