Patent ID: 7608725

Claim:
A process for making an N-substituted-2-nitroimidazole or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, the process comprising: a. reacting an N-substituted imidazole of formula I: wherein: R is halogen, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkylalkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkynyl, or C(O)OR 2 , where R 2 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkylalkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl; wherein: each C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 2 -C 10 alkenyl, C 2 -C 10 alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylalkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkenyl or heterocycloalkynyl is, independently, optionally substituted by one or more halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy or phenyl groups, with the proviso that C 1 is not substituted with three phenyl groups, with a base to produce a mixture; and b. reacting the mixture with at least one nitrating agent, with the proviso that the nitrating agent is not a non-acidic alkyl nitrate.