To a solution of 1-(4,4-difluoro-cyclohexyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one (190 mg, 0.94 mmol) in 10 mL dry THF, add 1.04 mL of 1.5M LDA (1.5 eq.) in hexane dropwise at −78° C. Then, add 0.59 g of 4-bromo-1-bromomethyl-2-chloro-benzene (1.5 eq) at −78° C. Allow the resulting solution to stand at room temp for overnight. Quench the mixture with saturated aqueous NaCl and extract with Et2O. Wash the organic layer with water, then brine, and dry over Na2SO4, filter and concentrate. Purify the crude material by chromatography to afford the title compound: mass spectrum (m/z): 407 (M+1).
