Sodium hydride → 7-[1-(4-Trifluoromethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine

A solution of 4-trifluoromethoxyphenol (1.78 g) in dry 1,2-dimethoxyethane was added slowly to a stirred suspension of sodium hydride (0.48 g) in dry 1,2-dimethoxyethane (35 ml). The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, then a solution of 7-(1-bromoethyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (2,27 g, prepared in a similar manner to that described in Example 6 above) in dry 1,2-dimethoxyethane (85 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 4 hours at room temperature. The sodium bromide was removed from the mixture by filtration. The solvent was evaporated from the mixture and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed with 200 ml of a 5% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide followed by water. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulphate. Evaporation of the solvent afforded a crude product which was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using as eluent a mixture of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate (in the ratio 6:4 respectively), followed by recrystallisation from a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane to give 7-[1-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. Yield 2.69 g, (m.p. 91°-93° C.).