A suspension of 6-amino-2-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-5-methyl-2H-indazole-7-carboxylic acid (0.288 g, 0.925 mmol) in acetonitrile (4 ml) was stirred at 20° C. for 10 minutes before the acyl chloride prepared from 2-(3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-5-methoxy-2H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid and oxalyl chloride (0.265 g, 0.971 mmol) was added. After 45 minutes stirring, 2,6-lutidine (0.215 ml) was added, followed 10 minutes later by methanesulfonyl chloride (0.072 ml, 0.925 mmol). After 18 hours of reaction, the mixture was concentrated under vacuum and water (25 ml) was added. The product was extracted with ethyl acetate and purified by flash chromatography on silica gel using a gradient from 50% to 100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane. The desired product was obtained as light orange crystals.
