A more complete synthesis for LF-1695 has been reported: The reaction of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (I) with PCl5 in hot chlorobenzene gives the corresponding acyl chloride (II), which is condensed with chlorobenzene (III) by means of AlCl3, yielding 2,4'-dichloro-5-nitrobenzophenone (IV). The condensation of (IV) with 4-methylpiperidine (V) by means of K2CO3 at 150 C affords 4'-chloro-2-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-5-nitrobenzophenone (VI), which is finally reduced with Fe or SnCl2 and HCl.