To an ice-cold solution of the product from Step C of Example 62 (1.06 g, 2.1 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (30 mL) was added HBr (5.7 M in acetic acid; 2.2 mL) dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h and then at room temperature for 2 h, concentrated in vacuo and co-evaporated with toluene (2×15 mL). The resulting oil was dissolved in MeCN (10 mL) and added dropwise into a solution of the sodium salt of 4-chloro-5-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine in acetonitrile [generated in situ from 4-chloro-5-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine [for preparation, see J. Med. Chem. 33: 1984 (1990)] (0.62 g, 3.7 mmol) in anhydrous acetonitrile (70 mL), and NaH (60% in mineral oil, 148 mg, 3.7 mmol), after 2 h of vigorous stirring at rt]. The combined mixture was stirred at rt for 24 h and then evaporated to dryness. The residue was suspended in water (100 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (250+100 mL). The combined extracts were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over Na2SO4, filtered and evaporated. The crude product was purified on a silica gel column (5×5 cm) using hexane/ethyl acetate (9/1, 5/1, 3/1) gradient as the eluent. Fractions containing the product were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give the desired product (0.87 g) as a colorless foam.
