To a solution of 1,2-difluoro-4-nitrobenzene (1.19 g, 7.49 mmol) and 3-(1-cyano-1-methylethyl)-N-(5-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)benzamide (2.0 g, 7.13 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (15 mL) was added potassium carbonate (1.47 g, 10.7 mmol), and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 18 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed with water (200 mL) and saturated brine (200 mL), successively, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The insoluble material was filtered off, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane/ethyl acetate=95/5→0/30), and the obtained solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (2.09 g, 70%) as a yellow oil.
