To a chilled (−78° C.) solution of 2.67 g (9.20 mmol) 5-bromo-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-indazole in 10 mL of anhydrous THF was added 7.36 mL (18.40 mmol) of a 2.5 M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane followed by a solution of 1.00 g (4.69 mmol) of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanone in 5 mL of THF in one portion. The reaction was then stirred at −78° C. for 30 minutes and quenched with 5 mL of water. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (20%-40% ethyl acetate in hexanes). The major fractions were combined and concentrated to afford 978 mg of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-indazol-5-yl]-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanol. MS m/z 426.39 (MIT).
