Aim To develop a new synthetic route for olmesartan medoxomil. Methods Olmesartan medoxomil was prepared from ethyl 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2-propylimidazole-5-carboxylate via hydrolysis and lactonization to afford 4,4- dimethyl-2-propyl-4,6-dihydrofuro [3,4-d]-1H-imidazole-6-one which was condensed with 2-(triphenylmethyl)-5-[4′-(bromomethylbiphenyl)-2-yl]tetrazole, followed by esterification with 4-chloromethyl-5-methyl-1,3-dioxol-2-one, and deprotection. The chemical structure of the major impurity i...