Water → 2-(3-Fluorophenyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[1,5-A]pyridine

To a solution of 2-[3-(3-fluorophenyl)-2H-azirin-2-yl]-5-trifluoromethylpyridine (2.2 g, 7.85 mmol) in DME (10 ml) was added FeCl2 (10 mg, 0.079 mmol). The solution was warmed to 75° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and added to H2O (180 ml). The resultant suspension was cooled to 0° C. and stirred for 30 min. The solid was isolated by filtration and partially dried via airflow. Recrystallization of the crude product in IPA afforded 1.34 g (60%) of the title compound as an off-white solid.