To a cooled (−15° C.) solution of methyl 2-(4-methyl-2-(piperidin-1-yl)-6-p-tolylpyrimidin-5-yl)acetate (0.100 g; 0.295 mmol) in dry DMF (1.5 mL) was wadded a 1N solution of LHMDS in THF (0.324 mL; 0.324 mmol) dropwise and the mixture was stirred at (−15° C.) for 15 min, followed by the dropwise addition of benzyl bromide (0.070 mL; 0.589 mmol). After stirring for 2 h at (−15° C.) the mixture was allowed to warm up to room temperature. After 1 h the reaction was quenched by adding a saturated solution of ammonium chloride and the mixture was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by flash-chromatography on silica gel using a gradient of ethyl acetate (2-20%) in heptane furnished 0.087 g (60%) of the title compound as a colorless oil.
