To a solution of 2-bromo-5-nitrobenzyl methanesulfonate from Step B (0.42 g, 1.35 mmol) and 3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl benzylamine (0.33 g, 1.35 mmol) in DMF (10 ml) at 0° C., potassium carbonate (0.37 g, 2.69 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h. TLC analysis (EtOAc/hexane=2:8) showed completion of the reaction. Water (50 ml) was added. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3×40 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. The title compound was obtained by flash column chromatography using 2:8 EtOAc/hexane as the eluant. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz) δ 8.35 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (dd, J=8.5, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (s, 2H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 8.76 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (s, 4H).
