To 2-(7-iodo-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzofuro[2,3-c]pyridin-1-ylmethyl)-isoindole-1,3-dione (0.192 g, 0.406 mmol) was added sodium tert-butoxide (117 mg, 1.22 mmol), copper (I) iodide (7.74 mg, 0.0406 mmol), 1,2-ethanediol (45.3 μL, 0.812 mmol), N,N-dimethylformamide (4.00 mL, 51.6 mmol), and finally 3-fluorobenzenethiol (36.0 μL, 0.427 mmol). The reaction mixture was flushed with N2 and heated at 120° C. under a N2 atmosphere. After 72 h, the reaction was cooled to room temperature and concentrated. The residual solid was partially dissolved into a 5% MeOH in DCM solution and flushed through a plug of Celite. The concentrated filtrate was chromatographed on silica gel using DCM-MeOH—NH4OH to afford a brownish yellow gum. MS m/z 473 [M+H]+.
