A solution of 3-methyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylamine (5.80 g, 33.3 mmol), 2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoic acid (5.78 g, 30.0 mmol), copper acetate (II) (0.545 g, 3.00 mmol) and potassium carbonate (4.15 g, 30.0 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL) was heated under reflux under an argon atmosphere for 2 hours. The solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and poured into water. The solution was made weakly acidic by the addition of 1N hydrochloric acid, and the resulting crude crystals were collected by filtration. The crystals were washed with water and air dried to give crude 4,5-difluoro-2-[[3-methyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]amino]benzoic acid (6.44 g, 65% yield). A solution of the compound (5.50 g, 16.7 mmol) in phosphorous oxychloride (10 mL, 107 mmol) was heated under reflux for 3 hours. The solution was allowed to cool to room temperature, and the resulting residue was poured into iced water. The solution was neutralized by the addition of a sodium hydroxide solution, and the organic matter was extracted with chloroform. The extract was washed with saturated brine and water, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue thus obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (chloroform to 1% methanol/chloroform) to give the title compound (0.88 g, 16% yield).
