To a suspension of 7-(benzyloxy)-4-chloroquinoline (45 g, 0.17 mol) and 2-fluoro-4-nitrophenol (28.9 g, 0.18 mol) in toluene (42 mL) was added DIPEA (25.9 g, 0.2 mol). The suspension was heated to 115° C. for 12 hours and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue was diluted with EtOH (45 mL), stirred at 60° C. for 30 minutes, and then allowed to cool down to 0° C. in an ice bath. The solid was collected through filtration, dried in vacuo at 45° C. for 24 hours to afford the title compound as a light grey solid (59.1 g, 91%)
