To a stirred solution of (2-m-tolyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)methanamine (3.5 g, 13.143 mmol) and 2-(3-fluoro-4-(methylsulfonamidomethyl)phenyl)propanoic acid (5.415 g, 19.715 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (102 mL) was added 1-hydroxybenzotriazolhydrate (1.834 mL, 13.143 mmol), O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (4.213 g, 13.143 mmol) and N-ethyldiisopropylamine (6.676 mL, 39.429 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 48 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the solid obtained was purified by column chromatography (silica gel: 100-200 mesh, eluent: ethyl acetate/cyclohexane 2:1) to afford a white solid (2.65 mg, 32%).
