A solution of 207 mg (0.418 mmol) of rac-[1-{[7-benzyloxy-2,5-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-3-carbonyl]amino}methyl}-1-methylbutyl)carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (Example 140A) in 6 ml of absolute ethanol was admixed with 47 mg of palladium on charcoal (loading 10% by weight, activated) and 1.3 ml of cyclohexene. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux under an argon atmosphere for 2.5 hours. The resulting mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered through a layer of Celite and concentrated under reduced pressure, which gave 206 mg (99% yield, 81% pure) of the target compound.
