4-Trifluoromethylbenzyl bromide (0.03 mL, 0.169 mmol, d=1.546) and tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (catalytic amount) are added to a 0° C. suspension of 2-(2-Fluoro-phenoxy)-2-methyl-3-{4-[2-(3-methyl-2-oxo-imidazolidin-4-yl)-ethoxy]-phenyl}-propionic acid ethyl ester (0.050 g, 0.112 mmol) and sodium hydride (0.011 g, 0.281 mmol, 60% suspension on mineral oil), and pre-stirred for 1 h at ambient temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred at ambient temperature for 18 h, diluted with ethyl acetate, and washed with 1N HCl, water, and brine. The organic layer is dried, concentrated, and purified by LCMS. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.54 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.35 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.25-7-21 (m, 3H), 7.16 (d, 1H, J=7.8 Hz), 7.08-6.95 (m, 4H), 6.73 (d, 2H, J=7.8 Hz), 4.45, 4.37 (ABq, 2H, L=15.0 Hz), 3.95 (t, 2H, J=5.9 Hz), 3.68-3.60 (m, 1H), 3.38 (t, 1H, J=8.5 Hz), 3.29, 3.15 (ABq, 2H, J=13.7 Hz), 3.02-2.97 (m, 1H), 2.84 (s, 3H), 2.25-2.19 (m, 1H), 1.92-1.83 (m, 1H), 1.39 (s, 3H). MS [ES+] m/z exact mass calcd for C30H31N2O5F4 575.2169, found 575.2172.
