To a solution of 5-(5-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-2-amine (80 mg, 0.25 mmol) in CHCl3 (10 ml) was added 2,6-difluorobenzoic acid (90 mg, 0.57 mmol), 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) (240 mg, 1.25 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) (160 mg, 1.31 mmol). The resultant solution was allowed to stir for 24 hours at room temperature. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC (EtOAc/petroleum ether=1:1). After the completion, the resultant solution was diluted with 30 ml of CHCl3 and washed with 30 ml of H2O. The mixture was dried and concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure on a rotary evaporator. The crude product was purified by SGC using 1:5 EtOAc/petroleum ether as eluent to afford 90 mg (81%) of 2,6-difluoro-N-(5-(5-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)benzamide (Compound 163) as a white solid.
