To a solution of triphenylphosphine oxide (0.68 g) in acetonitrile (10 ml) was slowly added trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (0.21 ml) at 0° C., and the mixture was stirred for 10 min. N-[2-(Benzylthio)-2-cyanopropyl]-7-[methyl(2-thienylsulfonyl)amino]-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (0.43 g) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min. Saturated aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate was added, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was washed with saturated brine, dried (MgSO4), and concentrated. The residue was subjected to silica gel column chromatography to give the title compound (0.27 g, yield 79%) as colorless crystals from a fraction eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane (2:3, volume ratio). melting point 178-179° C.
