To a 0° C. solution of [4-(spiro[indene-1,4′-piperidine]-1′-ylmethyl)phenyl]methanol (1.5 g, 4.91 mmol) in DCM (50 mL) is added phosphorus tribromide (0.667 mL, 6.8 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred for 15 minutes at 0° C. The reaction mixture is diluted with water (100 mL) at 0° C. and extracted with DCM (2×200 mL). The combined extracts are washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to give the title compound as an off white solid (1.1 g, 61%). ESI/MS m/z 369 (M+H)+.
