Methyl 2-[2-(4-{2-[ethyl(2-fluorobenzyl)amino]-2-oxoethoxy}phenyl)ethoxy]benzoate (0.200 g, 0.115 mmol) was dissolved in 3 ml THF in a Smith synthesiser vial and then 1.5 ml water and lithium hydroxide (0.032 g, 1.335 mmol) were added to the vial. The vial was capped and put in the microwave oven (Smith synthesiser). The reaction was then heated to 150° C. for 6 minutes. According to LC-MS the reaction was complete. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in diethyl ether (30 ml) and washed with NaHCO3 (sat) (2×20 ml). The basic water layer was acidified to pH 1 with 2M HCl. The water layer was extracted with three portions of 20 ml of DCM which were combined, dried and evaporated to give 160 mg of pure desired product.
