A solution of 2-(8-chloro-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-5-yl)-1,1-diphenyl-ethanol (100 mg, 0.24 mmol) in DCM (5 mL) and DMF (2 drops) was stirred at 0-10° C. Thionyl chloride (1.5 mL, 20.67 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 2 h. The solvent was removed under vacuum to obtain the crude yellow solid. 1N NaOH (10 mL) was added to the reaction mixture and the compound extracted with EtOAc (2×20 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrated under vacuum to obtain the crude product (100 mg) which was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (100-200 mesh) [Eluent: 0-2.5% MeOH and DCM] to yield 35 mg product which was converted to HCL salt. 1H NMR (CD3OD, HCl salt) δ (ppm): 7.46-7.40 (m, 6H), 7.25-7.16 (m, 5H), 7.10 (d, 1H), 6.98 (d, 2H), 4.62 (d, 1H), 4.30 (d, 1H), 3.70 (m, 1H), 3.40 (m, 1H), 3.0 (s, 3H), 2.90 (m, 2H).
