To a 250 mL round bottom flask was added 1-(3-Chloro-3′-methanesulfonyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(2,6-dichloro-phenyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (4.07 g, 7.40 mmol), MeOH (72 mL), and 2N aq NaOH (18.5 mL). The reaction solution was allowed to stir at 50° C. for 2 hr. The reaction solution was diluted with EtOAc (200 mL), neutralized by the addition of aq 1 N HCl, and poured into a separatory funnel. The organic phase was partitioned, and the aqueous phase was and extracted with EtOAc (150 mL×2). The combined organic phases were dried over Na2SO4, filtered into a round bottom flask and concentrated on the rotavapor. The crude residue was reprecipitated in an EtOAc/hexane solution and the solid precipitate was filtered under vacuum to afford 3.22 g (83% yield) of title product. MS (ESI) 521.3, 523.3, 525.3 [M+H]+.
