A solution of 5-bromo-2-[2-(4,4-difluoro-cyclohexyl)-vinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (0.030 g, 0.088 mmol, prepared as in STEP F above), 2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl boronic acid (0.040 g, 0.19 mmol), 1,1-bis(di-t-butyl-phosphinoferrocene palladium chloride (0.012 g, 0.018 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (2 mL) and 2M sodium carbonate (1.0 mL, 2 mmol) was stirred at 95° C. for 18 h. The resulting solution was cooled to room temperature and poured into a solution of ethyl acetate and water (1:1, 50 mL). The layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified on silica using ethyl acetate/hexanes 3:7 as eluent to yield 2-[2-(4,4-difluoro-cyclohexyl)-vinyl]-5-(2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1H-benzimidazole.
