To 1-benzyl-N,N-dimethylpiperidin-4-amine dihydrochloride (6.7 g, 23 mmol) was added Pd/C (10%, 2.4 g) under argon. Methanol (100 ml) was added via syringe, and H2 gas was introduced and the mixture stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of H2. After 48 h, the mixture was flushed with nitrogen, filtered through celite and concentrated to afford a mixture of starting material and N,N-dimethylpiperidin-4-amine dihydrochloride as a white solid. This solid was treated with 1-Fluoro-2-nitro-4-trifluoromethyl-benzene (3.2 ml, 22.9 mmol), triethylamine (12.7 ml, 92 mmol), and 50 ml dry THF. The mixture was heated to 75° C. with a water-cooled reflux condenser for 12 h. The mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature, was filtered through a fritted funnel, and concentrated to an orange oil. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (MC/MeOH/conc. NH4OH) to give the desired product as an orange oil. MS (m/z): 318.1 (M+H)+. Calc'd for C14H18F3N3O2: 317.31.
