3-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde (1.2 mL, 12.8 mmol) and 4-amino-2-phenylbenzoic acid hydrochloride (3.2 g, 12.8 mmol), prepared in Example 190A, were dissolved in 100 mL 1% acetic acid in methanol. After stirring for 10 minutes, NaBH3CN was added, and stirring was continued for 18 hours. The reaction was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were combined, washed with brine, and dried over Na2SO4 to give 4-(3-Pyridylmethylamino)-2-phenylbenzoic acid acetic acid salt (4.35 g, 90%) of the title compound. MS m/e 305 (M+H)+. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO, 300 MHz) δ 4.41 (s, 2H), 6.45 (d, J=3 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (m, 1H), 7.15-7.90 (m, 10H), 8.48 (m, 1H), 8.60 (m, 1H).
