A solution of N-[4-(3-cyano-1-ethyl-6-methoxy-1H-indol-2-yl)-phenyl]methanesulfonamide (130 mg, 0.35 mmol), prepared as in Example 1Y, in DMF (10 mL) was treated with NaH (21 mg, 0.53 mmol), and stirred at room temperature for 10 min. Iodomethane (0.03 mL, 0.53 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then diluted with H2O, and extracted with EtOAc (2×). The organic phases were washed with H2O and saturated NaCl and then dried and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography over silica gel (EtOAc/CH2Cl2, 0-1%) gave 60 mg (45%) of N-[4-(3-cyano-1-ethyl-6-methoxy-1H-indol-2-yl)-phenyl]-N-methyl methanesulfonamide as a white solid.
