The product from step (i) above (2.00 g) in acetonitrile (10 ml) was added dropwise over 15 minutes to a stirred solution of 1-(4-pyridyl)piperazine (1.04 g) and triethylamine (0.89 ml) in acetonitrile (15 ml) and the mixture stirred overnight. The precipitated solid was removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated. Purification of the residue by flash chromatography on silica, eluting with 0 to 5% v/v methanol/dichloromethane, gave a yellow gum. Trituration of this gum with diethyl ether gave methyl 2-[4-[2-[4-(4-pyridyl)piperazin-1-yl]acetyl]phenoxy]isobutryate, 170 mg, as a white solid: m.p. 88°-90° C.; NMR (d6 DMSO)δ8.15(2H,d), 7.96(2H,d), 6.82(4H,m), 3.92(2H,s), 3.70(3H,s), 3.33(4H,t), 2.63(4H,t), 1.60(6H,s); m/e 398 (M+H)+ ; calculated for C22H27N3O4.0.25H2O: C, 65.8; H, 6.8; N, 10.5. found: C, 65.8 H, 7.1; N, 10.4%.
