A mixture of sodium hydroxide (282 mg, 7.06 mmol) and MeOH (2.5 ml) was allowed to stir for 1 h at room temperature, 1-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-5-(4-nitro-phenyl)-1H-pyrazole (intermediate B) (200 mg, 706 μmol) and commercially available 2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-acetonitrile (143 mg, 127 μl, 1.06 mmol) were added, and the reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 2 h at 60° C. The reaction mixture was poured into water (20 ml) and extracted with diethyl ether (2×40 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (30 ml), dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. The crude product was further purified by column chromatography on silica gel (toluene/ethyl acetate 95:5) followed by crystallization (ethyl acetate/heptane) to yield the title compound as a light yellow solid (184 mg, 70%), MS (ISP) m/z=374.1 [(M+H)+], mp 171° C.
