To a solution of methyl 5-((6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-oxidobenzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)oxy)picolinate (0.314 g, 0.718 mmol) in THF (5.98 mL) at 0° C. was added LAH (1.0 M in THF, 2.153 mL, 2.15 mmol) dropwise and the reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h. Upon completion the reaction was quenched with water and sat. aq. potassium sodium tartrate and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min and then extracted with EtOAc (3×). The organic layers were combined, passed through a phase separator and concentrated in vacuo to afford crude (5-((6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)oxy)pyridin-2-yl)methanol which was used without further purification. LC/MS (m/z, MH+): 394.2.
