To a stirred solution of 22.5 parts of 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid in 405 parts of trichloromethane were added dropwise successively 11.8 parts of N,N-diethylethanamine and 13 parts of ethyl carbonchloridate at a temperature below 10° C. Stirring was continued for 45 minutes at a temperature below 10° C. Then there was added dropwise a solution of 19.15 parts of cis-ethyl 4-amino-3-methoxy-1-piperidinecarboxylate in 360 parts of trichloromethane at the same temperature. Upon completion, stirring was continued for 18 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was washed successively three times with water, once with a 5% sodium hydroxide solution and again twice with water. The organic phase was dried, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by column-chromatography over silica gel using a mixture of trichloromethane and methanol (90:10 by volume) as eluent. The pure fractions were collected and the eluent was evaporated, yielding 29.3 parts (80%) of cis-ethyl 4-(amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoylamino)-3-methoxy-1 -piperidinecarboxylate as a residue (compound 168).
