A mixture comprising ethyl 7-(7-bromo-2,3-di-p-tolyl-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazin-5-yl)heptanoate (step 1) (50 mg, 0.094 mmol) in anhydrous MeOH (1 ml) was degassed with N2 and treated with sodium (10.75 mg, 0.468 mmol). After stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes, the mixture was heated to 120° C. using microwave radiation for 1 hour. The mixture was diluted with water (20 ml) and the pH was adjusted to pH1 using 2M HCl. The aqueous was extracted with DCM (×3) and the combined organic extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification of the crude product by chromatography on silica eluting with 0-100% EtOAc in iso-hexane followed by 10% MeOH in EtOAc afforded the titled compound as an orange solid;
