A solution comprised of sodium iodide (7.9 g, 52.7 mmol) and 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide (4.7 g, 27.2 mmol) in acetone (40 mL) was refluxed for 15 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with ice water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was concentrated and the residue was combined with N-methylpyrrolidone (20 mL), lithium hydroxide (1.6 g, 67 mmol) and diethyl 2-benzoylaminomalonate (5 g, 18 mmol). The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature of 15 hours and then poured into cold water. The product was extracted with ethyl acetate and purified by silica gel chromatography to provide diethyl 2-benzoylamino-2-(2-phenylsulfanylethyl)malonate (1.316 g, 3.2 mmol).
