To a solution of 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-2-neopentyl-5-(piperidin-4-ylsulfonyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (STEP D, 1.31 g, 3.36 mmol) and triethylamine (945 microL, 6.73 mmol) in dichloromethane (12 mL) was added triphenylmethyl chloride (1.22 g, 4.37 mmol) at room temperature. After stirring for 14 h, the mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The precipitate was washed with a mixture of diethyl ether and hexane (1:1) to give the title compound (1.99 g, 94%) as a white solid.
