A suspension of N-{4-chloro-3-[(5-nitropyridin-2--yl)oxy]phenyl}-3-(1-cyano-1-methylethyl)benzamide (2.5 g, 5.72 mmol), calcium chloride (2.00 g, 17.2 mmol) and reduced iron (1.43 g, 25.7 mmol) in ethanol (35 mL)/water (5 mL) was stirred with heating at 90° C. for 4 hr. After the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, the insoluble material was filtered off through a pad filled with celite, and washed with ethyl acetate. The filtrate and the washing fluid were combined, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with water (50 mL×2), 5% aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (50 mL×2) and saturated brine (50 mL), and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The insoluble material was filtered off, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by basic silica gel column chromatography (ethyl acetate), and the obtained solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (1.45 g, 62%) as a beige amorphous substance.
