Reaction of p-chlorophenacyl bromide (I) with imidazole (II) affords 4'-chloro-2-(1-imidazolyl)acetophenone (III). Sodium borohydride reduction gives the corresponding alcohol (IV) which is then alkylated with 2,6-dichlorobenzyl chloride (V) to give orconazole (VI). Treatment of (VI) with nitric acid yield the title compound