(R)-N-[2-Chloro-3-fluoro-4-(ethylsulphonyl)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropanamide (Example 15; 0.308 g) was added to a stirred suspension of phenol (0.150 g) and anhydrous potassium carbonate (0.220 g) in anhydrous DMF (2 ml). The reaction mixture was heated to 150° C. under argon for 17 hours and allowed to cool to ambient temperature. EtOAc (50 ml) was added and the organic phase was washed with brine (4×50 ml), separated, dried and volatile material was removed by evaporation. The residue was purified on a 8 g silica Biotage cartridge eluting 40% EtOAc/isohexane to give the title compound (0.073 g) as a pale yellow foam. NMR (CDCl3): 1.18 (t, 3H), 1.69 (s, 3H), 3.23-3.30 (q, 2H), 3.48 (s, 1H), 6.78 (d, 2H), 7.02 (t, 1H), 7.24 (t, 2H), 7.97 (d, 1), 8.50 (d, 1H), 9.24 (brs, 1H); m/z: 450.
