4-(2-Fluoropyridin-3-yl)cyclohexanone (0.05 g, 0.26 mmol), (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone (0.19 g, 0.78 mmol), and cesium carbonate (0.25 g, 0.78 mmol) were mixed in NMP (1 mL). The reaction mixture was placed under a nitrogen atmosphere and stirred at 140° C. for 48 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with water, and extracted with EtOAc (3×). The combined organic layers were washed with 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide, washed with sat. sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting crude product was partially purified by silica gel chromatography. The impure product was then dissolved in a minimal amount of DCM, and hexanes were added until a precipitate formed. The resulting suspension was partially concentrated and filtered to give 4-(2-(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbonyl)phenoxy)pyridin-3-yl)cyclohexanone. MS (ESI, pos. ion) m/z: 412.1 (M+1). IC50 (uM) +++++.
