20.00 g (85.38 mmol) of ethyl 8-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxylate from Example 239A, 19.44 g (93.91 mmol) of 2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide and 61.20 g (187.83 mmol) of caesium carbonate in 1.18 l of DMF were stirred at 60° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was then poured into 6.4 l of 10% strength aqueous sodium chloride solution and then extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases were washed with 854 ml of 10% strength aqueous sodium chloride solution, dried, concentrated and dried under high vacuum at RT overnight. This gave 28.2 g (92% of theory; purity about 90%) of the title compound.
