To a solution of 3-[[5-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-phenyl]methylamino]-2,4-difluoro-phenol (70 mg, 0.19 mmol, 1.0 eq) in acetone (2 mL) was added Cs2CO3 (90 mg, 0.28 mmol, 1.5 eq) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 min then isopropyl bromoacetate (40 mg, 0.22 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for a further 30 min then water was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether:EtOAc, 100:0 to 20:1) to give the title compound as a colorless oil (73 mg, 82%).
