In a 500 mL round bottom flask ethyl 2-pyridylacetate (2.0 g, 12.1 mmol), and 60% sodium hydride (508 mg, 12.7 mmol) in dimethylformamide (50 mL) was stirred 1 h. 2-Bromo-1-[4-(3-chloro-propoxy)-phenyl]-ethanone (3.53 g, 12.1 mmol) was then added in dimethylformamide (50 mL) via dropping funnel. The reaction was stirred 14 h. Water (300 mL) was added and the organics were extracted three times with ethyl acetate, and then dried over MgSO4. Purification with silica gel chromatography eluting with hexanes/ethyl acetate (3:1) produced 2.8 g (62%). MS m/z 376 (M+H).
