To a stirred solution of Ethyl 2-[2,4-difluoro-3-[[3-fluoro-5-(3-fluorophenyl)phenyl]methylamino]phenoxy]acetate (385 mg, 0.89 mmol, 1.0 eq) in THF (4 mL) was added an aqueous solution of LiOH (2M aqueous solution, 3 mL, 6 mmol, 6.7 eq). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Water was added and the THF removed in vacuo. The aqueous residue was extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic extracts were washed with water and brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The crude material obtained was recrystallised from DCM/petroleum ether, collected by filtration and dried in vacuo to give (I(n)) (60 mg, 17%) as a white solid.
