To a solution containing 2-phenylpropan-2-amine (5.5 g, 40.4 mmol), diisopropylethylamine (18.8 mL, 108 mmol), 3-(3-nitropyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid (8.8 g, 27.0 mmol) and DMF (180 mL) was added HATU (15.4 g, 40.4 mmol) in one portion. The solution was maintained at room temperature for 1 h then concentrated. Purification on silica gel (50-100% ethyl acetate/hexanes, 60 min. gradient) afforded 3-(3-nitropyridin-4-yl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)benzamide as a dark yellow, fluffy solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-D6) δ ppm 9.21 (s, 1H), 8.93 (d, J=5.02 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H), 7.97 (dt, J=7.03, 1.76 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.73 (d, J=5.02 Hz, 1H), 7.52-7.61 (m, 2H), 7.34-7.41 (m, 2H), 7.27 (t, J=7.65 Hz, 2H), 7.16 (t, J=7.28 Hz, 1H), 1.64-1.72 (m, 6H). LCMS: retention time: 2.060 min. LC data was recorded on a Shimadzu LC-10AS liquid chromatograph equipped with a Phenomenex-Luna, 10 u, C18, 3.0×50 mm column using a SPD-10AV UV-Vis detector at a detector wave length of 220 nM. The elution conditions employed a flow rate of 4 mL/min, a gradient of 100% solvent A/0% solvent B to 0% solvent A/100% solvent B, a gradient time of 3 min, a hold time of 1 min, and an analysis time of 4 min where solvent A was 10% methanol/90% H2O/10 mM TFA and solvent B was 10% H2O/90% methanol/10 mM TFA. MS data was determined using a Micromass Platform for LC in electrospray mode. m/z 362 (MH+).
