3.1 ml of 4-tert-butylbenzaldehyde (18.47 mmol), 3 g of 2-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl -phenyl)-ethylamine hydrochloride (12.3 mmol) and 1.7 g of potassium carbonate (12.3 mmol) were suspended in 36 ml methanol at rt, and after stirring for 30 min at rt, were refluxed for 2 h. After cooling down to rt, 700 mg (18.47 mmol) of sodium borohydride were added and after stirring for 5 min at rt, the reaction mixture was refluxed for 2.5 h. After cooling down to rt, the reaction mixture was treated with 2.4 ml 1 N HCl and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was diluted with water/EtOAc. After separation of the organic phase, the aqueous phase was extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic phases were washed with brine, dried with magnesium sulfate, filtered off and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (90 g silica gel; EtOAc/heptane 1:2) to give 4.35 g light yellow oil (90%). MS (ISP) 354.3 (M+H)+.
