Benzaldehyde (I) is converted into the corresponding hydrazone (II) upon treatment with methylhydrazine in toluene. Condensation of hydrazone (II) with ethyl (ethoxymethylene)cyanoacetate (III) produces the hydrazinomethylene cyanoacetate (IV), which is further cyclized to the pyrazole (V) under acidic conditions (1). Heating of amino ester (V) with formamide gives rise to the pyrazolopyrimidinone (VI). This is finally alkylated with 2,6-difluorobenzyl chloride (VII) to furnish the title compound