To a stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro-3-[[5-(3-fluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-phenyl]methylamino]phenol (137 mg, 0.38 mmol, 1.0 eq) in DMF (10 mL) was added Cs2CO3 (170 mg, 0.5 mmol, 1.4 eq). The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature, then ethyl 2-bromoacetate (77 mg, 0.46 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 h and then diluted in water and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were washed with water and brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil (120 mg, 70%).
