A mixture of intermediate (2) (0.007 mol) and Na2CO3 (0.007 mol) in DMF (50 ml) was stirred. Methyl 2-bromo-2-phenylacetate (0.007 mol) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred for 4 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in DCM. The organic layer was separated, washed, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was triturated in 2-propanol. The precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 3.34 g of methyl α-phenyl-4-[4-[[[4′-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]carbonyl]amino]phenyl]-1-piperazineacetate (intermediate 3).
