A suspension of cesium carbonate (0.60 g, 1.83 mmol), 3-[2-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]-phenol (0.38 g, 1.35 mmol) (from Example 26 supra) in tetrahydrofuran-N,N-dimethylformamide (5:2, 17.5 mL) was heated at 70° C. for 3 hours. 3-Bromomethyl-4-chloro-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (0.41 g, 1.22 mmol) (from Example 1 supra) was added. Heating was continued for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×). The combined organic phase washed with water and brine, dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography eluting with 30% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give 4-chloro-3-{3-[2-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]-phenoxymethyl}-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester. (Yield 0.17 g, 26%).
