3′-(Trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-1,2′-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid (0.300 g, 1.10 mmol) and a catalytic amount of DMF were combined in CH2Cl2 (4.0 mL) and treated with (COCl)2 (0.14 mL, 1.6 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 90 minutes, diluted with toluene (0.5 mL) and concentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (4.0 mL) treated with pyridine (0.14 mL, 1.7 mmol), a catalytic amount of DMAP, and 4-tert-butylaniline (0.21 mL, 1.3 mmol). After 1 hour, the mixture was diluted with water and extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic phase was dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (2.5% ethyl acetate/CH2Cl2) to provide the title compound. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.42 (dd, 1H), 7.89 (dd, 1H), 7.47 (d, 3H), 6.98 (dd, 1H), 6.76 (s, 1H), 4.06 (q, 2H), 3.53 (t, 2H), 2.67 (m, 2H); MS (m/z) 404.
