2-Methyl-4-(4-methylsulfonylpiperazin-1-yl)quinoline (70 mg, 0.23 mmol) was placed in a Schlenk tube under an argon atmosphere, anhydrous THF (1.5 ml) was added and the solution cooled to −78° C. Lithium hexamethyldisilazid (50.6 mmol, 50.6 μl of a 1M solution in anhydrous THF) was added dropwise and the mixture stirred for one hour at −78° C. Diethylchlorophosphate (33.3 μl, 0.23 mmol) was added dropwise and stirring was continued for one hour. Acetic acid (100 μl) and water (1.5 ml) were added, the temperature raised slowly to room temperature and the mixture was extracted with diethylether (3×). The combined organic phases were washed with water and brine and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. 99 mg of an oily residue were obtained (0.22 mmol, 98%). MS (APCI) m/z=441.7 [M+1]+.
