To a solution of 2′-tert-butylaminosulfonyl-4-amino-[1,1′]-biphenyl (105 mg, 0.34 mmol) in 4 ml anhydrous dichloromethane was added a solution of 2M trimethylaluminum in hexane (0.5 ml, 1.02 mmol). Reaction was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes to which a solution of methyl (E)-3-(3-cyanophenyl)-4-(1H-1-pyrazolyl)-2-butenoate (90 mg, 0.34 mmol) in 1 ml anhydrous dichloromethane was added. Reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. Reaction was quenched with 5 ml 1N HCl after which an additional 20 ml dichloromethane was added. Organic was washed with 2×20 ml water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give (2E)-N-[4-(2-{[(tert-butyl)amino]sulfonyl}phenyl)phenyl]-3-(3-cyanophenyl)but-2-enamide (155 mg, 85%) as an off-white foam which was sufficiently pure to be used without further purification.
