To a solution of (1RS,2SR)-2-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1-propanol (300 mg, 0.96 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 ml) were added 4-(hydroxymethyl)-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (194 mg, 0.96 mmol), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (275 mg, 1.44 mmol) and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (147 mg, 0.96 mmol) and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction solution was diluted with water (100 ml), and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 ml×2). The extract was washed successively with 1N hydrochloric acid, 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane: ethyl acetate=2:1). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave the title compound (365 mg, 77%).
