Compound can be prepared in two different ways: 1) The Sandmeyer reaction of 2-amino-5-nitro-2'-chlorobenzophenone (I) with HCl, NaNO2 and CuCl gives 2,2'-dichloro-5-nitrobenzophenone (II), which is condensed with 2-diethylaminomethylimidazole (III) by means of NaH in DMF to afford the free base of Y-9179 (IV). Finally, this compound is treated with fumaric acid (B). 2) The treatment of 1-[2-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-4-nitrophenyl]-2-hydroxymethyl-imidazole (V) with SOCl2 gives the corresponding 2-chloromethyl derivative (VI), which is then treated with diethylamine (A) and Na2CO3 in benzene-DMF at 60 C.