To a stirred solution of methyl 4-[5-cyano-7-(1-fluoro-1-methylethyl)-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl]benzoate (29 mg, 0.086 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (6 ml) at room temperature under nitrogen was added potassium trimethylsilanolate (36.7 mg, 0.257 mmol), and the resulting dark orange solution was stirred overnight. It was then concentrated in vacuo. To the residue was added dichloromethane (6 ml), oxalyl chloride (2M solution in dichloromethane) (0.257 ml, 0.514 mmol), and 1 drop of dimethylformamide. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h, and then concentrated in vacuo. To the residue was added tetrahydrofuran (6 ml), 1-{1-[5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]piperidin-4-yl}methanamine (INTERMEDIATE 5, 33.3 mg, 0.129 mmol), and diisopropylethylamine (0.149 ml, 0.857 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by flash column chromatography. The recovered solid was triturated with hot methanol to afford the title compound. Mass spectrum (ESI) 566.2 (M+1). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 8.38 (s, 1H), 8.32 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 8.04 (s, 1H), 7.95 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.61 (dd, J=2.5 Hz, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 6.32 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 1H), 4.46 (d, J=13.4 Hz, 2H), 3.44 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.94 (m, 2H), 2.00 (m, 1H), 1.96 (s, 3H), 1.91 (s, 3H), 1.90 (br d, J=12.6 Hz, 2H), 1.34 (m, 2H).
