203 a) To a solution of 4-(3-nitro-phenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (0.50 g, 1.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (1.2 mL, 16 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours then the volatiles were evaporated. The residue was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL). Cesium carbonate (0.60 g, 1.8 mmol), sodium iodide (25.0 mg, 0.167 mmol) and 1-chloro-2-methanesulfonyl-ethane (0.26 g, 1.8 mmol) were added. The mixture was heated at 50° C. for 18 hours then cooled to room temperature and water (30 mL) was added. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water (2×20 mL) and saturated aqueous sodium chloride (20 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. 1-(2-Methanesulfonyl-ethyl)-4-(3-nitro-phenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridine was isolated as an orange viscous oil (0.381 g, 75%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, δ, ppm): 8.23 (s, 1H), 8.11 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.23 (s, 1H), 3.27 (s, 2H), 3.23 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.07-3.01 (m, 5H), 2.82 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 2.61 (br s, 2H). MS=311 (MH)+.
