Into a 25-mL RB-flask was added (R)-(+)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol (0.545 g, 3.19 mmol, 99% ee, Aldrich Chemical Co.), 2-methyl-N-[3-(4-piperidinyl)phenyl]propanamide (0.748 g, 3.04 mmol), potassium carbonate (0.420 g, 3.04 mmol) and sodium iodide (0.684 g, 4.56 mmol) and DMF (6.0 mL) at room temperature. After stirring at 100° C. for 3 hrs, the TLC showed the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was poured into water (50 mL) and the aqueous layer was extracted with methylene chloride (3×20 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (20 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (1:1=hexane:ethyl acetate with 1% isopropylamine) to afford the desired product (1.09 g, 94.3% yield) as light-yellow solid: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.10 (s, 1H), 7.46–7.35 (m, 6H), 7.27 (m, 2H), 6.98 (apparent d, 1H, J=7.6 Hz), 5.02 (apparent dd, 1H, J=4.4, 8.1 Hz), 3.18 (apparent dd, 2H, J=2.5, 12.5 Hz), 2.74 (m, 2H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.30–2.10 (m, 6H), 1.80 (m, 2H), 1.25 (d, 6H, J=7.1 Hz); ESMS m/e: 381.2 (M+H)+.
