Indazole (T) (1.68 g.) was added to a solution of sodium (0.108 g.) in methanol (1.0 ml.). After stirring for 5 minutes, iodomethane (0.32 ml.) was added and stirring continued for 18 hours. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with water and brine, then dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (130 g.), eluting with 2:98 v/v ethyl acetate:dichloromethane to give methyl 4-[3-methoxy-6-nitroindazol-1-ylmethyl]-3-methoxybenzoate (U) (0.481 g., 28%) as a yellow solid, with satisfactory NMR spectral data.
