Alkylation of isovanillin (I) with 2-indanyl tosylate (II) produces the corresponding indanyl ether (III). Subsequent reduction of the aldehyde function of (III) with NaBH4 yields the benzylic alcohol (IV), which is converted to chloride (V) by treatment with SOCl2. Displacement of chloride (V) by KCN in hot DMF gives nitrile (VI). The phenylacetonitrile (VI) is then converted to the homologous phenylpropionitrile derivative (VII) by alkylation with iodomethane in the presence of LDA. Further cyano group reduction in (VII) by hydrogenation over Raney Ni provides amine (VIII). Condensation of amine (VIII) with diphenyl N-cyanocarbonimidate affords the N-cyano isourea (IX) which, after reaction with 2,2-dimethoxyethylamine (X), yields the cyano guanidine (XI). Finally, cyclization of (XI) under acidic conditions gives rise to the target 2-(cyanoimino)imidazole derivative.