4-Fluorobenzylic alcohol → 1-Benzyl-7-(4-fluorobenzyloxy)-2-methylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyridazine

32.65 g (291 mmol) of potassium tert-butoxide and 1.54 g (5.82 mmol) of [18]crown-6 (98% strength) are added successively to a solution of 21.8 g (173 mmol) of 4-fluorobenzyl alcohol in 150 ml of anhydrous N-methylpyrrolidone. This mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 h. A solution of 15.0 g (58.2 mmol) of 1-benzyl-7-chloro-2-methylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyridazine in 100 ml of anhydrous N-methylpyrrolidone is subsequently added dropwise in the course of 30 min. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for a further 15 min, then treated with 500 ml of ice-water and extracted with 3×400 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic extracts are washed with 3×300 ml of water and subsequently dried over magnesium sulfate. After concentration and crystallization from diisopropyl ether, 12.95 g (64%) of the title compound are isolated. M.p.: 127°-132° C.