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4-Methyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-imidazole (Compound 14.1, 800 mg, 5.33 mmol) was added to a 250 mL round-bottomed flask under inert nitrogen protection. Subsequently 5% aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution (50 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 25-30°C for 40 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the pH of the reaction solution was adjusted with acetic acid to 5-6. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 150 mL), and the organic phases were combined and washed with brine (2 x 50 mL) and saturated aqueous Na2CO3 solution (2 x 20 mL) in that order. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography with the eluent of ethyl acetate: petroleum ether (1:20-1:10) to afford 4-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-carbonitrile (350 mg, 61% yield) as a white solid.

[1] Patent: WO2014/8197, 2014, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 87; 88
[2] Patent: WO2015/95767, 2015, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 102; 103