To a solution of trifluoro-methanesulfonic acid 4-[1-benzyl-4-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-phenyl ester (2.2 g, 4.34 mmol) in DMF (8 mL) was added zinc cyanide (0.61 g, 5.22 mmol) and tetrakis triphenylphosphine palladium (0.7 g, 0.63 mmol). The reaction was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere at 90° C. for 5 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and it was diluted with diethyl ether (100 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (5×10 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Purification with hexanes/EtOAc (2:1) afforded 1.52 g (92% yield) of 4-[1-Benzyl-4-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-benzonitrile. 1HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.51 (d, 2H), 7.34 (d, 2H), 7.28-7.18 (comp, 6H), 6.80 (d, 1H), 6.77 (s, 1H), 6.70(d, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.39 (s, 2H), 2.63-2.39 (comp, 8H); MS (M+1) 383.2.
