To a stirred solution of 2,4-difluoro-3-[[3-fluoro-5-(3-fluorophenyl)phenyl]methylamino]phenol (350 mg, 1.0 mmol, 1.0 eq) in acetone (5 mL) was added Cs2CO3 (492.5 mg, 1.5 mmol, 1.5 eq). The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature then ethyl bromoacetate (202 mg, 1.21 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred 1 h then water added and the mixture extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were washed with water and brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil (385 mg, 88%).
