Ex-456A) Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate (6.75 mL, 0.045 mol) and 3-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethoxy)benzaldehyde (10 g, 45 mmol) were dissolved in 100 mL of dichloroethane and acetic acid (2.7 mL, 47 mmol), then solid NaBH(OAc)3 (14.3 g, 67 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, then quenched with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with brine, then dried over MgSO4, and evaporated to give 16.7 g (98%) of the desired ethyl 3-[[[3-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]methyl]amino]benzoate product as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ1.3 (t, 3H), 4.3 (q, 2H), 4.5 (s, 2H), 6.5 (tt, 1H), 6.9 (d, 1H), 7.1-7.4 (m, 7H).
