To a suspension of 2-(3-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)thiazole (I-19) and copper(I) oxide (e.g., about 0.2 eq) in ethylene glycol-dioxane (e.g., about 4:1) in a sealed tube is added ammonium hydroxide solution (e.g., ˜29% in water, ˜30 eq). The resultant mixture is warmed to about 100° C. and stirred at that temperature for about 24 h. The reaction solution is cooled to room temperature, poured into 1N NaOH solution and then extracted with EtOAc. The organic phases are dried, e.g., over Na2SO4 or MgSO4, filtered and concentrated. The crude product is purified using SiO2 chromatography and an appropriate gradient (EtOAc/hexanes) to give 6-(1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-(thiazol-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)pyridin-2-amine (I-14) as a solid.
