To a solution of 2-(benzo[2,1,3]oxadiazol-5-yloxy)-N-[4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-benzyl]-nicotinamide (300 mg, 0.74 mmol) in dichloromethane (1.5 ml) cooled to 0° C. was added trimethylsilyl cyanide (1 ml, 7.4 mmol) followed by slow addition of tin tetrachloride (7 drops of a 1.0 M solution in dichloromethane). The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. Potassium carbonate (300 mg, 2.10 mmol) and potassium fluoride dihydrate (120 mg, 2.10 mmol) were added, followed by dropwise addition of water. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 90 m., after which silica gel was (600 mg) added. The mixture was filtered and washed thoroughly with dichloromethane. The filtrate was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give 124 mg of a pale yellow solid. Product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/hexane to afford 96 mg (31% yield) of a pale yellow solid.
