To a solution of 2′-tert-butylaminosulfonyl-4-amino-[1,1′]-biphenyl (79 mg, 0.26 mmol) in 4 ml anhydrous dichloromethane was added a solution of 2M trimethylaluminum in hexane (0.39 ml, 0.78 mmol). Reaction was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes to which a solution of ethyl (E) 3-(3-cyanophenyl)-2-propenoate (56 mg, 0.26 mmol) in 1 ml anhydrous dichloromethane was added. Reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. Reaction was quenched with 5 ml 1N HCl after which an additional 10 ml dichloromethane was added. Organic layer was washed with 2×20 ml water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give the (2E)-N-[4-(2-{[(tert-butyl)amino]sulfonyl}phenyl)phenyl]-3-(3-cyanophenyl)but-2-enamide (90 mg, 72%) as an off-white powder which was sufficiently pure to be used without further purification.
