Methanesulfonic acid 2-(6-benzenesulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-ethyl ester (0.250 g, 9.634 mmol), imidazole (0.173 g, 2.54 mmol), potassium carbonate (0.175 g, 1.27 mmol) and potassium iodide (0.25 g) were added to 50 mL of acetonitrile, and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 16 hours under argon. The reaction mixture was cooled and poured into 300 mL of water, extracted twice with 250 mL of EtOAc, and the combined organic layers were washed with water, saturated brine, and dried (MgSO4). The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to yield an oil that was purified via silica gel column, eluting with MeOH/CHCl3 (5:95). Solvent was removed under reduced pressure to afford 0.180 g (0.491 mmol, 77.5% of 1-[2-(6-benzenesulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-ethyl]-1H-imidazole as an oil. The oil was recrystallized from EtOH/HCl to give 0.130 g of the corresponding hydrochloride salt (0.323 mol, 50.9%). MS: 367 (M+H)+.
