Add 6-chloronicotinamide (7.03 g, 44.90 mmol) to a stirred solution of 4-(2-benzylamino-ethyl)-phenol (10.10 g, 44.43 mmol), potassium carbonate (15.35 g, 111.1 mmol), dimethylacetamide (138 mL), and isooctane (16 mL). Using a Dean-Stark trap, heat the reaction to reflux under nitrogen for 6 h. Cool the reaction mixtures to room temperature, filter off the solids, and concentrate most of the solvent off on a rotary evaporator. Take the residue up in ethyl acetate (200 mL) and add 1N hydrochloric acid (200 mL). Stir for 15 minutes and filter off the precipitate washing with ethyl acetate. Dissolve the solid in 400 mL of boiling 1:1 methanol/water. To this solution add 5N sodium hydroxide (35 mL) and allow the solution to cool to room temperature. Filter and wash with water to yield 19.74 g (83%) of 6-[4-(2-benzylamino-ethyl)-phenoxy]-nicotinamide: mass spectrum (ion spray): m/z=348.1 (M+1); 1H NMR (CDCl3): 8.58 (d, 1H), 8.15 (dd, 1H), 7.34-7.24 (m, 7H), 7.06 (d, 2H), 6.93 (d, 1H), 6.08 (br s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 2H), 2.92 (t, 2H), 2.84 (t, 2H), 1.33 (br s, 1H).
