A solution of 20.5 grams (0.051 mole) of 4-[bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)hydroxymethyl]piperidine, 10.0 grams (0.051 mole) of 4-(cyclopropylmeth-oxy)phenylmethyl chloride (prepared as in Step A of Example 1), and 35.4 mL (0.203 mole) of N,N'-diisopropylethylamine in 200 mL of dimethyl sulfoxide was stirred at ambient temperature for about 18 hours. The reaction mixture was then poured into an aqueous solution saturated with sodium bicarbonate. The mixture was extracted with two portions of ethyl acetate, and the extracts combined. The combination was dried with sodium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to a residue, which was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel with 50% heptane in methylene chloride to 50% acetone in methylene chloride. The product-containing fractions were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure, yielding 22.0 grams of N-[4-(cyclopropylmethoxy)phenylmethyl]-4-[bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)hydroxymethyl]piperidine. The NMR spectrum was consistent with the proposed structure.
