To a solution of 2-isopropylphenol (5.0 g, 36.713 mmol) in dichloromethane (183.0 mL) was added 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (8.1 g, 40.385 mmol) and Et3N (10.3 mL, 73.426 mmol) at 0° C. After stirring at 0° C. 2 hours, the reaction mixture was treated with 30.0 mL of saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated. The crude product was used without further purification. To a solution of crude carbonate intermediate in dichloromethane (150 mL) was added 2-(naphthalen-2-yl)ethanamine (6.9 g, 40.385 mmol) and Et3N (10.3 mL, 73.426 mmol) at 0° C. After stirring at 0° C. 2 hours, the reaction mixture was treated with 30.0 mL of saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash column chromatography using a 9:1 v/v hexane:ethyl acetate as solvent to afford title compound (11.5 g, 94% yield) as a white solid.
