To a solution of 3-[(2,3-dimethyl-5-phenyl-phenyl)methylamino]-2,4-difluoro-phenol (120 mg, 0.4 mmol, 1.0 eq) in acetone (4 mL) was added Cs2CO3 (173 mg, 0.5 mmol, 1.5 eq) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. Isopropyl bromoacetate (76 mg, 0.42 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Water was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extracts were washed with water and brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether:EtOAc, 20:1) to give the title compound as a colorless oil (117 mg, 75%).
