To a solution of 4-(phenyl(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl)piperidine (0.4 g, 1.25 mmol) in MeCN (15 mL) was added triethyl amine (0.45 mL, 3.2 mmol) at rt. After stirring at rt for 10 min, it was cooled to 0° C. and ethyl bromoacetate (0.27 mL, 1.62 mmol) was added dropwise. After stirring at rt for 16 h, the solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl acetate, the combined organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum to afforded the crude product. Column chromatography (SiO2, 5-10% ethyl acetate in hexane) afforded ethyl 2-(4-(phenyl(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl)piperidin-1-yl)acetate (0.25 g, 52% yield) as a pale yellow solid. MS (ESI, pos. ion) m/z: 406 (M+1).
