To a solution of methyl 2-methyl-5-(4-morpholinyl)-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylate, prepared as described in Example 26, step d (0.2 g, 0.726 mmol) in N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) (10 mL) was added 1-(bromomethyl)-3-fluoro-2-methylbenzene (0.295 g, 1.453 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.301 g, 2.179 mmol). The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 3 h at 80° C. The solution was cooled to room temperature and poured into water and was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic phase was washed with Brine and concentrated. The residue was purified on Biotage Isolera purification system using a Biotage 10 g SNAP silica gel cartridge and eluted with a gradient of DCM to 5% MeOH/DCM over 10 column volumes. The expected compound was collected and evaporated to yield a tan solid. The tan solid was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (10.00 mL) followed by the addition of 1M lithium hydroxide solution (10 mL, 10 mmol). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and the organic solvent was removed in vacuo. The solution was diluted with water (20 mL) and acidified with 1 N HCl. The mixture was then filtered and the grey solid was purified by reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of acetonitrile (0.1% TFA) and water (0.1% TFA v/v) (10-40%) over 10 minutes. The appropriate fractions were collected and evaporated to yield the desired product (62.7 mg, 0.164 mmol, 22.51% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 2.36 (s, 3H) 2.87 (s, 3H) 3.07-3.20 (m, 4H) 3.81-3.92 (m, 4H) 5.55 (s, 2H) 6.29-6.38 (m, 1H) 6.85-6.90 (m, 1H) 7.03-7.17 (m, 2H) 7.55 (m, 1H). MS (ES+) m/e 383.8 [M+H]+.
