To a solution of 3-[[3-(3-fluorophenyl)-5-methyl-phenyl]methylamino]-2,4-dimethyl-phenol (168 mg, 0.50 mmol, 1.0 eq) in DMF (10 mL) was added Cs2CO3 (245 mg, 0.75 mmol, 1.5 eq). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min then isopropyl bromoacetate (109 mg, 0.6 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for a further 1 h then poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were washed with water and brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether: EtOAc, 40:1 to 30:1) to give the title compound as a colorless oil (151 mg, 69%).
