Dimethylcarbamoyl Chloride → 2-(2,4-Difluorophenyl)-3-(6-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol

A mixture of the product of part (i) (0.90 g), N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl chloride (0.80 g) and trimethylsilyl cyanide (0.80 g) in dichloromethane (10 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 7 days and the resulting solution was evaporated. The residue was treated with 5N hydrochloric acid (10 ml) and the mixture was agitated in an ultrasonic bath for 0.05 hour to give a clear solution. A solid formed on standing which was filtered off, washed with acetone followed by ether, and dried to give the title compound as the hydrochloride salt, (0.28 g), m.p. 219° (with decomposition).