To a solution of 16 g of 4-{1-[2-(4-Acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-4-yl]-1H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-ylamino}-benzoic acid ethyl ester (34.5 mMol, 1.00 equiv) in 200 mL of 1:1 MeOH:THF was added 5.75 g of lithium hydroxide (137 mMol, 4.00 equiv) in 100 mL of water. The solution was stirred at 60° C. for 12 hr and then the MeOH and THF were removed via rotary evaporation. The basic solution was neutralized by the addition of 68 mL of 2N HCl and the precipitate was isolated by filtration, yielding 12.5 g of 4-{1-[2-(4-Acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-4-yl]-1H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-ylamino}-benzoic acid (28.7 mMol, 83.5% yield) as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ∂ 10.215(1H, s), 9.48 (1H, s), 8.18 (1H, d), 7.91 (2h, d), 7.71 (2H, d), 7.49 (1H, s), 7.35 (1H, d), 4.38 (2H, m), 3.31 (4H, m), 2.10 (3H, s), 1.22 (6H, m) ppm. LC/MS: 2.02 min/436.30 (M+1)
