A solution of sodium hydrosulfite (512 mg, 2.498 mmol) in water (3.25 mL) was added to a solution of methyl 3-methoxy-4-(methylamino)-5-nitrobenzoate (200 mg, 0.833 mmol) and 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carbaldehyde (167 mg, 0.833 mmol) in ethanol (6.5 mL) in a microwave vial. The reaction mixture was heated in the microwave for 5 h at 100° C. The reaction mixture was diluted with DCM (20 mL), dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product as a colourless oil. The crude product was purified by column chromatography on a silica cartridge (25 g) using a gradient of 60% EtOAc/cyclohexane→100% EtOAc/cyclohexane. (The product eluted near the solvent front). The appropriate fractions were combined and evaporated under vacuum to give the product as a yellow oil—methyl 2-(1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-2-yl)-7-methoxy-1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (260 mg, 0.666 mmol, 80% yield)
