A novel and practical synthetic route for the preparation of candesartan cilexetil from methyl 2-amino-3-nitrobenzoate is described. The key steps are the reaction of methyl 2-bromo-3-( diethoxymethyleneamino) benzoate with (2′-(1-trityl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl) biphenyl-4-yl) methanamine and the final formation of 2-ethoxy benzimidazole ring via intramolecular N- arylation. The final ring closure process could be utilized to prepare other 2-substituted ...
