Propanedioyl dichloride → 2-(7,8-Difluoro-2,4-dioxo-5-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-1-yl)-N-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide

A solution of 5.62 g 2-(4,5-difluoro-2-phenylamino-phenylamino)-N-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide, prepared as in Part A, (13.2 mmol) in 50 mL of tetrahydrofuran is transferred to an addition funnel. A solution of 1.60 mL of malonyl dichloride (16.53 mmol, 1.25 equiv) in 50 mL tetrahydrofuran is transferred to a separate addition funnel. Each solution of each reagent is simultaneously added dropwise over 20 min. to 250 mL of tetrahydrofuran at ambient temperature under nitrogen with vigorous agitation. After stirring 16 hrs. at ambient temperature, the reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified on flash grade silica gel using 40-50% ethyl acetate in hexane. The appropriate fractions were combined, evaporated in vacuo, dried under high vacuum for 2 hrs., and then triturated with hexane. The hexane is removed in vacuo and the residual solid is dried under high vacuum to provide 2.340 g of 2-(7,8-Difluoro-2,4-dioxo-5-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-1-yl)-N-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-acetamide as an off-white solid: 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ7.37 (m, 7H), 7.15 (m, 1H), 7.01 (m, 2H), 6.76 (dd, 1H, J=7.8, 11.1), 5.04 (m, 1H), 4.36 (d, 1H, J=16.3), 4.00 (d, 1H, J=16.5), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.62 (d, 1H, J=12.2), 3.54 (d, 1H, J=12.2), 1.14 (m, 6H); low resolution MS (FAB)m/e 494 (MH+).