Pyridine → 2-(2-Methoxyphenyl)acetamide

2-Methoxyphenylacetic acid (10.0 g, 60.1 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (15 mL). Subsequently, pyridine (2.84 g, 36.1 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate [Boc2O (19.6 g, 90.2 mmol)] were added thereto. The mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at room temperature, and then ammonium hydrogencarbonate (7.1 g, 90.2 mmol) were added. After completion of reaction, the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. Thereafter, the resultant concentrate was added to water, and the resultant mixture was extracted with chloroform, followed by washing sequentially with 1M hydrochloric acid and brine. The resultant mixture was subjected to drying over magnesium sulfate and concentration under reduced pressure. The resultant concentrate was used in Production Example 18 without purification.