1-(3-Bromophenyl)-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-2-methyl-1-propanol (1.15 g) and a solution of tri-n-butyl(2-pyridyl)tin (1.01 g) in DMF (10 ml) was deaerated and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (73.1 mg) was added. The mixture was stirred under an argon atmosphere at 80° C. for 5 h and copper(I) iodide (20.1 mg) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (48.7 mg) were added. The mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 18 h. Water was added to the reaction mixture and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with 5% aqueous ethylenediamine solution, water (twice) and saturated brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by silica gel chomatography (eluent; hexane:ethyl acetate=3:1→2:1). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave the title compound (577 mg, 51%) as colorless powder crystals.
