Mefenidil (CAS NO.: ), with other name of -4-acetonitrile, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-, could be produced through many synthetic routes.

One of the reaction methods is as below:

The cyclization of benzamidine (I) with biacetyl (II) in water - isopropanol gives 4,5-dimethyl-2-phenylimidazoline-4,5-diol (III), which by treatment with refluxing aqueous 10% HCl is converted into 4-hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-5-methyl (IV). The reaction of (IV) with SOCl₂ in refluxing benzene yields 4-chloromethyl-2-phenyl-5-methylimidazole (V), which is finally treated with NaCN in DMSO - water.