N1-Trityl-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzimidazol-5-amine (990 mg; 2 mmol; 1 eq.) was dissolved in THF (5 ml), cooled to 0° C. and treated with lithiumbis(trimethylsilyl)amide 1M in THF (2.4 ml; 2.4 mmol; 1.2 eq.). Phenylethylbromide (0.330 ml; 2.4 mmol; 2.4 eq.) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×25 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (5 ml) and treated with TFA (1 ml). After heating to reflux for 1 h the mixture was poured into saturated NaHCO3-solution and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×25 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica using a CHCl3/MeOH gradient. Yield: 0.058 g (8.1%); MS m/z: 358.1 [M+H]+; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO d6): δ 2.85 (t, 2H, 3J=7.9 Hz); 3.57 (t, 2H, 3J=7.9 Hz); 3.69 (s, 3H); 4.44 (s, 2H); 6.77-6.79 (m, 2H); 6.83-6.86 (m, 2H); 7.14-7.16 (m, 2H); 7.18-7.21 (m, 1H); 7.23-7.25 (m, 2H); 7.28-7.30 (m, 2H); 7.38-7.39 (m, 1H); 7.92 (s, 1H); 11.92 (br s, 1H); HPLC (METHOD [A]): rt 16.74 min (96.3%)
