3-(5-Amino-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)propanoate, (200 mg 0.523 mmol), sodium nitrite (361 mg, 5.233 mmol, 10 eq.) and benzyltriethylammonium bromide (427 mg, 1.570 mmol, 3 eq.) were suspended in bromoform (3 mL) and stirred at room temperature for ˜30 min. Dichloroacetic acid was then added (86 μL, 135 mg; 1.047 mmol, 2 eq.), and the mixture stirred at room temperature overnight, covering the flask with foil to keep light out. Water was added (5 mL) and stirring continued for a further 30 min. The reaction mixture was then transferred to a sep. funnel and additional water and dichloromethane were added. The organic layer was collected and the aqueous layer washed with dichloromethane (2×). The combined organic extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated and purified by flash column chromatography (6:4 Hexanes/Ethyl acetate) to give ethyl 3-(5-bromo-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)propanoate as a light brown oil (111 mg, 47.6%).
