To a stirring solution of N-(2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethoxy)-3,4-difluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-benzamide (3.03 g, 5.81 mmol) in methanol (30 mL) and water (3 mL) at ambient temperature was added p-toluene sulfonic acid (0.11 g, 0.581 mmol). After 18 hours another 0.11 g of added p-toluene sulfonic acid and 2 mL of water was added. After an additional 24 hours the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was washed twice with saturated NaHCO3 solution and twice with saturated brine solution. The organic layers were collected, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo affording a light brown solid, which was crystallized from ethyl acetate/hexanes to afford N-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-3,4-difluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-benzamide as a white solid. m.p.=135.5-137.3° C.; 1NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 11.87 (s, 1H), 8.69 (s, 1H), 7.54 (dd, 1H, J=10.9, 1.5), 7.32-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.17 (dd, 1H, J=16.8, 9.0), 6.61-6.66 (cm, 1H), 4.82 (bs, 1H), 4.58 (bs, 1H), 3.84-3.85 (m, 1H), 3.71-3.64 (cm, 2H), 3.33 (2H, partially hidden by HDO); MS(APCI+)=483.0; Anal.calcd/found for C16H14F3IN2O4: C, 39.85/40.12; H, 2.93/2.84; N, 5.81/5.65; F, 11.82/11.47.
