2-methylimidazole with arylaldehyde 4 and subsequent reduction of the intermediate 5 with Raney-nickel gave 2-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]imidazole 2. Compound 11 was prepared from compound 10 similarly. Reaction of compound 2 with methylsulfonyl chloride gave 1-methylsulfonyl-2-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]imidazole (7a) in moderate yield. Nitration of compound 11 (Ar = 3-pyridyl) gave the desired nitro compounds