Potassium Hydroxide → 5-Bromo-3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

To a solution of Intermediate 24E (4.6 g) in ethylene glycol (50 mL) was added 50% aqueous KOH solution (23 mL) and the reaction was heated at 150° C. for 3 days. The reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with H2O, extracted with EtOAc twice. The combined organics were extracted with 1.5 N HCl solution, the aqueous layer was basified with 10% NaOH solution, extracted with EtOAc twice and the combined organics were washed with H2O, brine, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated to give Intermediate 24 (1.5 g, 39.4%) as a brown liquid. MS (ESI) m/z: 242.2 (M+H)+.