A process suitable for kilogram-scale synthesis of (2R)-2-methyl-6-nitro-2-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy]methyl}-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazole (DNDI-VL-2098, 2), a preclinical drug candidate for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, is described. The four-step synthesis of the target