The intermediate pyridylbenzoic acid (III) was prepared by treatment of pyridine-N-oxide (I) with trimethylsilyl cyanide, followed by acid hydrolysis of the cyano and ester groups

3-Bromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile (IV) was protected as the methoxymethyl ether (V). Subsequent Heck reaction with N-allyl phthalimide (VI) produced adduct (VII). The phthaloyl group OF (VII) was then removed by hydrazinolysis to yield the primary amine (VIII), which was coupled with carboxylic acid (III) using TBTU to afford amide (IX). Pinner reaction of (IX) with concomitant methoxymethyl group deprotection gave imidate (X). Finally, ammonolysis of the imidate group of (X) furnished the title amidine.