To an ambient temperature solution of [2-(2,6-Dichloro-phenyl)-4-isopropyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]-methanol (2.50 g, 8.76 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) is added 4-Fluoro-2-methyl-benzonitrile 1.18 g, 8.76 mmol), cesium carbonate (5.71 g, 17.53 mmol). The reaction mixture is heated to 80° C. overnight. The reaction mixture is concentrated and the residue is partitioned between Et2O and water. The aqueous layer is extracted with Et2O and the combined organic layers are washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, concentrated, and chromatographed (0% to 20% EtOAc/Hex) to yield the title compound (2.13 g, 61%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.46-7.40 (m, 3H), 7.32 (dd, 1H, J=9.0, 7.3 Hz), 6.68-6.62 (m, 2H), 4.85 (s, 2H), 2.99 (sept, 1H, J=7.0 Hz), 2.46 (s, 3H), 1.31 (d, 6H, J=7.0 Hz).
