A slurry was prepared consisting of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)-6-methoxybenzo[b]thiophene in 1 L of EtOH, 250 mL of EtOAc, and 40 mL of water. Palladium(0) black 4.04 g (38 mmol) and ammonium formate 12.6 g (200 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for one hour, then filtered hot through celite and evaporated to dryness. The solid was partioned between EtOAc and a saturated solution of Na2HCO3. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried with Na2SO4, and evaporated to dryness. This yielded 12.8 g of the title compound as a white solid.
