To a stirring solution of N-(2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethoxy)-3,4-difluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-benzamide (0.907 g, 1.74 mmol) in methanol (10 mL) and water (1 mL) at ambient temperature was added p-toluene sulfonic acid (0.032 g, 0.17 mmol). After stirring for 18 hours the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the affording residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layers were washed twice with water and once with saturated brine solution. Organic layers were collected, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo affording a light brown solid, which was dissolved in ethanol and precipitated with water to afford N-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-3,4-difluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-benzamide as a white solid (0.387 g). m.p.=83-85° C.; 1NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) 11.87 (s, 1H), 8.69 (s, 1H), 7.56 (d, 1H, J=11.0), 7.33-7.39 (m, 2H), 7.19 (dd, 1H, J=16.6, 9.0), 6.62-6.68 (cm, 1H), 4.82 (d, 1H, J=4.2), 4.58 (t, 1H, J=5.5), 3.84-3.87 (m, 1H), 3.66-3.72 (m, 2H), 3.3 (2H, partially hidden by HDO); MS(APCI+)=483.0; Anal.calcd/found for C16H14F3IN2O4.0.3 H2O: C, 39.41/39.02; H, 3.02/2.93; N, 5.75, 5.81; F, 11.69/11.68.
