A suspension of bromide, tert-butyl (R)-1-(4-bromophenyl)-4-((R)-3-(1-(3-methoxypropyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-4-oxobutan-2-ylcarbamate (prepared from the procedure of Example 6, Step A) (45 mg, 0.088 mmol), imidazole (11 mg, 2 eq), CuI (3.3 mg, 20% mol), N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine (3.1 mg, 40% mol), potassium phosphate (K3PO4) (37.4 mg, 2 eq) in 2 mL dioxane was heated at 110° C. for 27 hrs. The mixture was filtered; the filtrate was washed with EtOAc and concentrated to give a greenish oil.
