1.27 ml of methanesulfonyl chloride were added dropwise while stirring to a solution, cooled to 0°, of 2.0 g of (R)-1-(7-fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-b]pyrrol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol and 4.52 ml of triethylamine in 60 ml of dichloromethane and the mixture was stirred at this temperature for an additional 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was subsequently diluted with 100 ml of dichloro-methane, washed twice with 60 ml of saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution each time and the combined aqueous phases were extracted once with 60 ml of dichloromethane. The combined organic phases were washed with 70 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in a vacuum. The brown oil obtained was dissolved in 50 ml of anhydrous dimethylformamide, treated with 1.07 g of sodium azide and the reaction mixture was heated to 60° for 16 hours while stirring. After cooling, the solution was poured into 80 ml of water and extracted three times with 70 ml of ethyl acetate each time. The combined organic phases were washed once with 70 ml of water and once with 70 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solution was concentrated in a vacuum. The brown oil obtained was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (toluene). 1.22 g (54%) of (S)-1-(2-azido-propyl)-7-fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole were obtained as a yellow oil.
