The Friedel-Crafts condensation of 2-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]acetyl chloride (I) with toluene (II) gives 1-(3-methylphenyl)-2-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]ethanone (III), which is oxidized with MCPBA to yield the corresponding sulfonyl compound (IV). The bromination of (IV) with Br2 affords the bromoethanone (V), which is finally cyclized with pyridine-2-amine (VI) to provide the target imidazopyridine compound.