Magnesium turnings (0.692 g, 28.47 mmol) were stirred under Ar(g) for 10 min and LiCl 0.5M in THF (28.5 mL, 14.24 mmol) was added followed by DIBAL-H 1M in THF (0.228 mL, 0.23 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 5 min and then 5-bromo-1,2-difluoro-3-methoxybenzene (2.54 g, 11.39 mmol) in 5 mL THF was added in one portion and stirred for 1 h. The mixture was added to N-((3-bromophenyl)(2-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)methylene)-2-methylpropane-2-sulfinamide (4.64 g, 11.39 mmol) in THF (20 mL) and stirred 1 h. MeOH (3 mL) was added and the mixture was treated with HCl in 2.0 MeOH (22.78 mL, 22.78 mmol) for 1 h. NaHCO3(sat) was added and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC to give 714 mg (14%) of the title product as a solid. MS (ES+) m/z 447, 449 [M+H]+.
