To a solution of 4-benzenesulfinyl-6,7-dimethoxy-quinoline (step b, 1 g, 3.2 mmol) in THF (15 mL) at −10° C., was added phenylmagnesium bromide (1M in THF, 3.5 mL, 3.5 mmol). The reaction was warmed to RT and stirred for 20 min. 6-Bromo-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde (Step d, 0.75 g, 3.2 mmol) was added in THF. The resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 2 h, then poured into saturated NH4Cl solution and extracted with ethyl acetate 3×. The combined organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude was purified by silica gel column chromatography (15-35% acetone/CH2Cl2) to give the titled compound. MS (ESI, pos. ion) m/z: 424.1 (M+1).
