In DMF (3 ml) was dissolved (E)-N-[4-(chloromethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methylphenyl)cinnamamide (200 mg), and to the solution were added 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)piperazine (158 mg) and potassium carbonate (382 mg). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, and to the mixture was added water (50 ml). The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-diisopropylether to give (E)-N-[4-[1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-4-piperazinylmethyl]phenyl]-3-(4-methylphenyl)cinnamamide (Compound 57) (266 mg) as colorless crystals.
