2-Bromo-1-methyl-1H-imidazole (47 μL, 0.48 mmol) was dissolved in diethyl ether (2 mL) and cooled to −75° C. under argon. Butyl lithium (2.5 M in hexanes; 192 μL, 0.48 mmol) was added dropwise and the mixture stirred at −75° C. for 1 hour. A solution of (R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-g]isoquinoline-4a-carbaldehyde (252 mg, 0.5 mmol) in diethyl ether (2 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 16 hours whilst warming slowly to room temperature. The reaction mixture was cooled and treated with water (10 mL) and the phases separated. The organic phase was extracted with further diethyl ether (×2) followed by dichloromethane (×2). The combined organic phases were dried over sodium sulfate, the solids were removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (gradient: 17.5 to 25% acetone in cyclohexane) to afford (R)-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-g]isoquinolin-4a-yl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-(R/S)-methanol as a white powder (82 mg) LCMS (Method A, ESI): RT 2.74 min, m+H=588.1
