the n - substituted amidine compound employed in the process of the invention has the aforementioned formula ( 2 ). in the formula ( 2 ), r 1 is a group not participating in the reaction between the n - substituted amidine compound of the formula ( 2 ) and the ketone compound of the formula ( 3a ) or ( 3b ) and typically is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl ( or hydrocarbon ) group which has or does not have a substituent group . examples of the hydrocarbyl groups include alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms ( e . g ., methyl , ethyl , propyl , butyl , pentyl , hexyl , heptyl , octyl , nonyl and decyl ), cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms ( e . g ., cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentyl , cyclohexyl , cycloheptyl , and cyclooctyl ), aralkyl groups having c 1 - 3 alkyl moiety ( e . g ., phenethyl and phenylpropyl ), monocyclic , dicyclic or tricyclic aryl groups having 6 to 14 carbon atoms ( e . g ., phenyl , p - tolyl , naphthyl , and anthryl ), and monocyclic , dicyclic or tricyclic heterocyclic groups having 3 to 14 carbon atoms ( e . g ., pyridyl , pyridinyl , piperazinyl , pyrrolyl , imidazolyl , furyl , and thienyl ). the hydrocarbyl groups can be in any isomer forms . r 1 particularly is an alkyl group and most particularly is methyl . the hydrocarbyl groups may have one or more substituent groups . examples of the substituent groups include a substituent group bonded via a carbon atom , a substituent group bonded via an oxygen atom , a substituent group bonded via a nitrogen atom , a substituent group bonded via a sulfur atom , and a halogen atom . examples of the substituent groups bonded via a carbon atom include alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methyl , ethyl , propyl , butyl , pentyl , and hexyl ; cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentyl , cyclohexyl , and cycloheptyl ; alkenyl groups having 2 to 8 carbon atoms such as vinyl , allyl and propenyl ; cycloalkenyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as cyclopropenyl , cyclobutenyl and cyclopentenyl ; heterocyclic groups such as quinolyl , pyridyl , pyrrolidinyl , pyrrolyl , furyl , and thienyl ; aryl groups such as phenyl , tolyl , fluorophenyl , xylyl , biphenylyl , naphthyl , anthryl , and phenanthoryl ; acyl groups such as c 1 - c 6 alkanoyl groups , c 1 - c 6 alkenoyl groups , c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylcarbonyl and arylcarbonyl ( e . g ., acetyl , propionyl , acryloyl , pivaloyl , cyclohexylcarbonyl , benzoyl , naphthoyl , and toluoyl , which may be acetallized ); carboxyl groups ; c 1 - c 6 alkoxycarbonyl groups such as methoxycarbonyl and ethoxycarbonyl ; aryloxycarbonyl groups such as phenoxycarbonyl ; halogenated alkyl groups such as trifluoromethyl ; and cyano group . these groups can be in the form of any isomers . these substituents can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . examples of the substituent groups bonded via an oxygen atom include hydroxyl ; c 1 - c 6 alkoxy groups such as methoxy , ethoxy , propoxy , butoxy , pentyloxy , hexyloxy , and heptyloxy ; and aryloxy groups such as phenoxy , toluyloxy , and naphthyloxy . these groups can be in the form of any isomers . these substituents can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . examples of the substituent groups bonded via a nitrogen atom include primary amino groups such as n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino groups , c 3 - c 6 cycloalkylamino groups and arylamino groups ( e . g ., methylamino , ethylamino , propylamino , butylamino , cyclohexylamino , phenylamino , and naphthylamino ); secondary amino groups such as n , n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino groups and diarylamino groups ( e . g ., dimethylamino , diethylamino , dipropylamino , dibutylamino , methylethyl - amino , methylpropylamino , methylbutylamino , diphenyl - amino , and n - methyl - n - methanesulfonylamino ); heterocyclic amino groups having a nitrogen atom as a ring - forming member , such as morpholino , piperidino , piperazinyl , pyrazolidinyl , pyrrolidino , and indolyl ; and imino group . these groups can be in the form of any isomers . these substituents can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . examples of the substituent groups bonded via a sulfur atom include mercapto ; thioalkoxy groups such as thiomethoxy , thioethoxy , and thiopropoxy ; and thioaryloxy groups such as thiophenoxy , thiotoluoyloxy , and thionaphthyloxy . these groups can be in the form of any isomers . these substituents can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . accordingly , in one embodiment of the invention , r 1 is hydrogen , an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms , a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms , an aralkyl group having a c 1 - c 3 alkyl group , or a monocyclic , dicyclic or tricyclic aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms . the alkyl groups , cycloalkyl groups , aralkyl groups and aryl groups can have one or more substituents ( e . g ., halogen atom , a c 1 - c 12 alkyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cyclo - alkyl group , a c 2 - c 8 alkenyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl group , a heterocyclic group , an aryl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkanoyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylcarbonyl group , an aryl - carbonyl group , a carboxyl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxycarbonyl group , an aryloxycarbonyl group , trifluoromethyl , cyano , hydroxyl , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxy group , an aryloxy group , an n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylamino group , an arylamino group , an n , n - di ( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a diaryl amino group , n - methyl - n - methanesulfonylamino , imino , and mercapto ). the aromatic ring of each of the aralkyl group and aryl group can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . examples of the halogen atoms include fluorine , chlorine , bromine , and iodine . r 2 is a group selected from the group consisting of a secondary alkyl group , a tertiary alkyl group , and a cycloalkyl group . examples of the secondary alkyl groups include secondary alkyl groups having 3 to 6 carbon atoms such as isopropyl , sec - butyl , 2 - pentyl and 3 - pentyl . examples of the tertiary alkyl groups include tertiary alkyl groups having 4 to 7 carbon atoms such as t - butyl and 1 , 1 - dimethylpropyl . examples of the cycloalkyl groups include cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as cyclopropyl , cyclobutyl , cyclopentyl , cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl . these secondary or tertiary alkyl groups can further have substituents which are described for r 1 . particularly , secondary alkyl groups , ( more particularly is isopropyl ) can be mentioned . accordingly , in one embodiment of the invention , r 2 is a secondary alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms , a tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 7 carbon atoms , or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atom , in which these groups can have one or more substituents ( such as a halogen atom , an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , or hydroxyl ). the n - substituted amidine compound can be in the form of a salt such as hydrochloride , hydrosulfide , sulfide or phosphate . particularly , it is hydrochloride . the n - substituted amidine compound of the formula ( 2 ) employed in the process of the invention can be prepared by reacting an imido - acid compound of the formula ( 4 ) and an amine compound of the formula ( 5 ). the reaction conditions are described in bull . soc . chim . fr ii , 449 ( 1978 ). the reaction product ( i . e ., n - substituted amidine compound ) produced in the above - mentioned reaction can be subjected to the reaction with the ketone compound without separating the reaction product from a reaction mixture . the ketone compound employed in the process of the invention has the aforementioned formula ( 3a ) or ( 3b ). in the formulas ( 3a ) and ( 3b ), r 3 is a group not participating in the reaction between the n - substituted amidine compound of the formula ( 2 ) and the ketone compound and typically is a hydrocarbyl ( or hydrocarbon ) group which has or does not have a substituent group . examples of the hydrocarbyl groups and substituents are the same as those described for r 1 . accordingly , in one embodiment of the invention , r 3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms , a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms , an aralkyl group having a c 1 - c 3 alkyl group , or a monocyclic , dicyclic or tricyclic aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms . the alkyl groups , cycloalkyl groups , aralkyl groups and aryl groups can have one or more substituents ( e . g ., halogen atom , a c 1 - c 12 alkyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl group , a c 2 - c 8 alkenyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl group , a heterocyclic group , an aryl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkanoyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylcarbonyl group , an arylcarbonyl group , a carboxyl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxycarbonyl group , an aryloxycarbonyl group , trifluoromethyl , cyano , hydroxyl , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxy group , an aryloxy group , an n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylamino group , an arylamino group , an n , n - di ( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a diaryl amino group , n - methyl - n - methanesulfonyl , imino , and mercapto ). the aromatic ring of each of the aralkyl group and aryl group can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom . x is a leaving group such as a halogen atom ( e . g ., fluorine , chlorine , bromine , and iodine , particularly bromine and iodine ). each of y and z can be independently a halogen atom ( e . g ., fluorine , chlorine , bromine , or iodine ), an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms ( e . g ., methoxy and ethoxy ), an aryloxy group ( e . g ., phenoxy ), an alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms ( e . g ., methylthio and ethylthio ), an arylthio group ( e . g ., phenylthio ), a dialkylamino group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms ( e . g ., dimethylamino and diethylamino ), and a diarylamino group ( e . g ., diphenylamino ). particularly , it is an alkoxy group , and more particularly it is methoxy . accordingly , in one embodiment of the invention , each of y and z independently is a halogen atom , an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , an aryloxy group , an alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , an arylthio group , a dialkylamino group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms ( that is , n , n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) 2 amino group ), or a diarylamino group . accordingly , in one aspect , the present invention provides a process for preparing a 1 - substituted 5 - acyl - imidazole compound of the following formula ( 1 ): which comprises reacting an n - substituted amidine compound having the following formula ( 2 ) or a salt thereof : with at least one ketone compound having the following formula ( 3a ) or ( 3b ): in the above - mentioned formulas , each of r 1 , r 2 , r 3 , x and y has the following meaning : r 1 is hydrogen , an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms , a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms , an aralkyl group having a c 1 - c 3 alkyl group , or a monocyclic , dicyclic or tricyclic aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms . the alkyl groups , cycloalkyl groups , aralkyl groups and aryl groups can have one or more substituents ( e . g ., halogen atom , a c 1 - c 12 alkyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkyl group , a c 2 - c 8 alkenyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl group , a heterocyclic group , an aryl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkanoyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylcarbonyl group , an aryl - carbonyl group , a carboxyl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxycarbonyl group , an aryloxycarbonyl group , trifluoromethyl , cyano , hydroxyl , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxy group , an aryloxy group , an n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylamino group , an arylamino group , an n , n - di ( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a di - aryl amino group , n - methyl - n - methanesulfonyl , imino , and mercapto ), and the aromatic ring of each of the aralkyl group and aryl group can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom ; r 2 is a secondary alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms , a tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 7 carbon atoms , or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atom , in which these groups can have one or more substituents ( such as a halogen atom , an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , or hydroxyl ); r 3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms , a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms , an aralkyl group having a c 1 - c 3 alkyl group , or a monocyclic , di - cyclic or tricyclic aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms . the alkyl groups , cycloalkyl groups , aralkyl groups and aryl groups can have one or more substituents ( e . g ., halogen atom , a c 1 - c 12 alkyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cyclo - alkyl group , a c 2 - c 8 alkenyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkenyl group , a heterocyclic group , an aryl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkanoyl group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylcarbonyl group , an aryl - carbonyl group , a carboxyl group , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxycarbonyl group , an aryloxycarbonyl group , trifluoromethyl , cyano , hydroxyl , a c 1 - c 6 alkoxy group , an aryloxy group , an n —( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a c 3 - c 8 cycloalkylamino group , an arylamino group , an n , n - di ( c 1 - c 6 alkyl ) amino group , a diaryl amino group , n - methyl - n - methanesulfonylamino , imino , and mercapto ), and the aromatic ring of each of the aralkyl group and aryl group can further have a substituent such as a c 1 - c 4 alkyl group or a halogen atom ; each of y and z independently is a halogen atom , an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , an aryloxy group , an alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms , an arylthio group , a dialkylamino group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms , or a diarylamino group . in another aspect , the invention provides a process for preparing for preparing a 1 - substituted 5 - acyl - imidazole compound of the following formula ( 1 ): [ in which r 1 is methyl , r 2 is isopropyl , and r 3 is methyl ] which comprises reacting an n - substituted amidine compound having the following formula ( 2 ) or a salt thereof : [ in which each of r 1 and r 2 is the same as above ] with at least one ketone compound having the following formula ( 3a ) or ( 3b ): [ in which r 3 is the same as above , x is a halogen atom , and each of y and z is methoxy ], in the presence of a base . examples of the bases employed in the reaction include an organic amine compound such as trialkylamine compounds which have an alkyl group each containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms , such as triethylamine , tripropylamine and tributylamine , and heterocyclic compounds such as pyridine and picoline , and an inorganic base compounds such as an alkali metal hydroxide ( e . g ., sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide ), an alkali metal carbonate ( e . g ., sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate ), an alkali metal hydrogen carbonate ( e . g ., sodium hydrogen carbonate and potassium hydrogen carbonate ), and an alkali metal alkoxide ( e . g ., sodium methoxide , potassium methoxide , sodium ethoxide , potassium ethoxide , sodium t - butoxide , and potassium t - butoxide ). particularly , it is an organic amine compound , and specifically a trialkylamine compound . more particularly , it is a triethylamine . the bases can be employed singly or in combination . the base can be employed in the reaction in an amount of 0 . 1 to 20 moles , particularly 0 . 5 to 10 moles , per one mole of the n - substituted amidine compound or its salt . the reaction can be performed in a solvent ( particularly a polar solvent ). examples of the polar solvents include water , a lower alkyl alcohol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms ( e . g ., methanol , ethanol , isopropyl alcohol and t - butyl alcohol ), a ketone compound ( e . g ., acetone , methyl ethyl ketone , and methyl isobutyl ketone ), an amide compound ( e . g ., n , n - dimethylformamide , n , n - dimethylacet - amide , n - methylpyrrolidone ), a urea ( e . g ., n , n ′- dimethylimidazolidinone ), a sulfoxide ( e . g ., dimethylsulfoxide ), a sulfone ( e . g ., sulforane ), a nitrile ( e . g ., acetoni - trile and propionitrile ), and an ether ( e . g ., diethyl ether , diisopropyl ether , dimethoxyethane , tetrahydrofuran , 2 - methyltetrahydrofuran , and dioxane ). the solvent can be employed singly or in combination . the solvent can be employed in an amount of 0 . 5 to 100 ml , particularly 1 to 50 ml , per one gram of the n - substituted amidine compound or its salt . the invention can be carried out , for instance , by mixing the n - substituted amidine compound or its salt , the ketone compound , a base , and a solvent and stirring the mixture at 10 to 200 ° c ., preferably 20 to 120 ° c . there is no specific limitation with respect to the reaction pressure . the 1 - substituted 5 - acylimidazole compound prepared by the reaction can be isolated and purified by conventional methods such as neutralization , extraction , filtration , concentration , distillation , recrystallization , crystallization , and column chromatography . the present invention is further described by the following non - limiting examples . in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , 20 . 0 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of ethyl acetimidate and 80 ml of isopropyl alcohol were placed . to the mixture in the vessel , 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine was dropwise added , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 30 ° c . the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature and then cooled to 10 ° c . to the cooled mixture was dropwise added 9 . 56 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of isopropylamine , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 30 ° c . the mixture was then stirred for one hour at room temperature for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , the reaction mixture was concentrated to give an isopropyl alcohol solution containing 16 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropylacetamidine . in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 16 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropylacetamidine ( which was prepared in the above - mentioned reference example 1 ), 19 . 3 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 - methoxy - 3 - buten - 2 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 80 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours , for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was distilled under reduced pressure ( 0 . 4 kpa , 85 ° c .) to give 10 . 9 g ( yield : 61 %) of 5 - acetyl - 1 - iso - propyl - 2 - methylimidazole as pale yellow liquid . 1 h - nmr ( cdcl 3 , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 50 ( 6h , d ), 2 . 45 ( 3h , s ), 2 . 52 ( 3h , s ), 5 . 30 ( 1h , m ), 7 . 71 ( 1h , s ); in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 16 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropylacetamidine ( which was prepared in the above - mentioned reference example 1 ), 22 . 8 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 , 4 - dimethoxy - 2 - butanone and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 80 ° c . under stirring for 20 hours , for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was distilled under reduced pressure ( 0 . 4 kpa , 85 ° c .) to give 9 . 63 g ( yield : 54 %) of 5 - acetyl - 1 - isopropyl - 2 - methylimidazol as pale yellow liquid . the procedures of reference example 1 were repeated except that isopropylamine was replaced with 19 . 6 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of ( r )- 1 - phenylethylamine . there was obtained an isopropyl alcohol solution containing 26 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n —(( r )- 1 - phenylethyl ) acetamidine . in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 26 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n —(( r )- 1 - phenylethyl ) acetamidine ( which was prepared in the above - mentioned reference example 2 ), 19 . 3 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 - methoxy - 3 - buten - 2 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 80 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : ethyl acetate ) to give 18 . 7 g ( yield : 76 %) of 5 - acetyl - 2 - methyl - 1 -(( r )- 1 - phenylethyl ) imidazole . 1 h - nmr ( cdcl 3 , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 85 ( 3h , d ), 2 . 06 ( 3h , s ), 2 . 49 ( 3h , s ), 6 . 93 ( 1h , m ), 7 . 13 ( 2h , m ), 7 . 32 ( 3h , m ), 7 . 78 ( 1h , s ); in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , 20 . 0 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of ethyl acetimidate and 80 ml of isopropyl alcohol were placed . to the mixture in the vessel , 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine was dropwise added , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 30 ° c . the mixture was then stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature . the mixture was then cooled to 10 ° c . to the cooled mixture was dropwise added 11 . 8 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of tert - butylamine , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 30 ° c . the mixture was then stirred for one hour at room temperature for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , the reaction mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : ethyl acetate / methanol = 20 / 1 ) to give 15 . 9 g ( yield : 86 %) of n - tert - butylacetamidine . 1 h - nmr ( cd 3 od , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 43 ( 9h , s ), 2 . 21 ( 3h , s ), 3 . 35 ( 2h , s ); in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , 18 . 5 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - tert - butylacetamidine ( which was prepared in the above - mentioned reference example 3 ), 19 . 3 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 - methoxy - 3 - buten - 2 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 120 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : ethyl acetate ) to give 4 . 86 g ( yield : 25 %) of 5 - acetyl - 1 - tert - butyl - 2 - methyl - imidazole . 1 h - nmr ( cdcl 3 , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 72 ( 9h , s ), 2 . 49 ( 3h , s ), 2 . 65 ( 3h , s ), 7 . 70 ( 1h , s ) the procedures of reference example 1 were repeated except that isopropylamine was replaced with 9 . 23 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of cyclopropylamine . there was obtained an isopropyl alcohol solution containing 15 . 9 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - cyclopropylacetamidine . in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 15 . 9 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - cyclopropylacetamidine ( which was prepared in the above - mentioned reference example 4 ), 19 . 3 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 - methoxy - 3 - buten - 2 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 80 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : hexane / ethyl acetate = 2 / 1 ) to give 11 . 8 g ( yield : 67 %) of 5 - acetyl - 1 - cyclopropyl - 2 - methylimidazole as pale yellow liquid . 1 h - nmr ( cdcl 3 , δ ( ppm )): 0 . 69 ( 2h , m ), 0 . 78 ( 2h , m ), 2 . 28 ( 3h , s ), 2 . 33 ( 3h , s ), 2 . 81 ( 1h , m ), 5 . 41 ( 1h , m ), 7 . 66 ( 1h , s ); the procedures of reference example 1 were repeated except that ethyl acetimidate was replaced with 7 . 29 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of formamide and that the reaction temperature was 50 ° c . there was obtained an isopropyl alcohol solution containing 13 . 9 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropyl - formamidine . in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 13 . 9 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropylformamidine ( which was prepared in reference example 4 ), 19 . 3 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 3 - bromo - 4 - methoxy - 3 - buten - 2 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 8 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : ethyl acetate ) to give 3 . 28 g ( yield : 20 %) of 5 - acetyl - 1 - isopropylimidazole as pale yellow liquid . 1 h - nmr ( dmso - d 6 , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 40 ( 6h , d , j = 6 . 59 hz ), 2 . 43 ( 3h , s ), 5 . 16 ( 1h , sep , j = 6 . 59 hz ), 7 . 93 ( 1h , d ), 8 . 15 ( 1h , brs ); in a 300 ml - volume glass vessel equipped with a stirrer , a thermometer and a dropping funnel , the isopropyl alcohol solution containing 16 . 2 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of n - isopropylacetamidine ( which was prepared in the same manner as in reference example 1 ), 26 . 0 g ( 0 . 108 mol ) of 2 - bromo - 3 - methoxy - 1 - phenyl - 2 - propen - 1 - one and 16 . 4 g ( 0 . 162 mol ) of triethylamine were placed . the mixture was heated to 80 ° c . under stirring for 8 hours for carrying out reaction . after the reaction was complete , 80 ml of sulfuric acid ( 2 mol / l ) was added to the reaction mixture , and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was washed with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the aqueous portion was taken out . the aqueous portion was made basic by adding an aqueous 48 % sodium hydroxide , while the mixture was kept at a temperature of not higher than 40 ° c . the aqueous basic portion was subjected to extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone , and the extracted portion was concentrated under reduced pressure . the concentrate was purified by silica gel column chromatography ( eluant : hexane / ethyl acetate = 2 / 1 ) to give 2 . 47 g ( yield : 10 %) of 5 - benzoyl - 1 - isopropyl - 2 - methylimidazole as pale yellow liquid . 1 h - nmr ( cdcl 3 , δ ( ppm )): 1 . 60 ( 6h , d ), 2 . 60 ( 3h , s ), 5 . 20 ( 1h , m ), 7 . 48 ( 2h , m ), 7 . 59 ( 2h , m ), 7 . 81 ( 1h , s ), 7 . 83 ( 1h , m );